SERVICE OF PROCESS

Before giving notice to the , the complaint must be filed with the court. The court will issue a summons that bears the courts seal. The summons must be Summons served with the complaint. A summons must be served with a copy of the complaint. The plaintiff is ServiceIn responsible for having the summons and complaint served within the time allowed by Rule 4(m) and must furnish the necessary copies to the person who General makes service. Any person who is at least 18 years old and not a party may serve a summons Who May Serve and complaint. The may also request the court to have the summons delivered Summons? by a U.S. Marshall Rule 4(c)(3). If fails to waive service, then the costs of serving the will be imposed upon the unless the can show good cause for refusing to waive. Motions under Rule 12 be are almost never good cause. Usually the only accepted good causes Waiving Service are not receiving waiver request or inability to read and understand English. If waives service, time to respond to complaint is increased to 60 days (domestic ; 90 days international ). [SEE EXTRA CHART BELOW FOR PROCEDURE FOR SERVING INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES]. (1) In General. Serving a summons or filing a waiver of service establishes personal jurisdiction over a defendant: (A) who is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of general jurisdiction in the state where the district court is located; (B) who is a party joined under Rule 14 or 19 and is served within a judicial district of the United States and not more than 100 miles from where the summons was issued; or (C) when authorized by a federal statute

Rule 4(a)-(b)

Rule 4(c)(1)

Rule 4(c)(2)

Rule 4(d)

Territorial Limits of Effect of Service / Personal Jurisdiction

Rule 4(k)
(2) Federal Claim Outside State-Court Jurisdiction. For a claim that arises under federal law, serving a summons or filing a waiver of service establishes personal jurisdiction over a defendant if: (A) the defendant is not subject to jurisdiction in any state's courts of general jurisdiction; and (B) exercising jurisdiction is consistent with the United States Constitution and laws Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co. Standard: Due process requires that notice be given in a way that is reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an opportunity to present their objections. The notice must be of such a nature as to reasonably convey the required information and it must afford a reasonable time for those interested to make their appearance.

Sufficiency of Notice

Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co.

Jones v. Flowers

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No distinction between constructive notice that sufficed in in rem cases and a personal service required for in personam cases. In all cases, the form of notice requires is one that was sensible under the circumstances and reasonably likely to inform the of the lawsuit. ** suggests that due process does not always require personal service especially when personal service would not be feasible. However, only very unusual circumstances justify failure to give personal service to any whose identity and whereabouts are known and who is not seeking to evade service. Jones v. Flowers United States Supreme Court held that government was required to do more than send several mailings to last known address to give proper notice concerning a tax sale of a house but did not specify what other steps, such as looking in a phonebook, were required. An affidavit is required for proof of service. Failure to provide proper proof of service does not affect the validity of service. Proof of service can be amended. If a defendant is not served within 120 days after the complaint is filed, the courton motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiffmust dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period. This subdivision (m) does not apply to service in a foreign country under Rule 4(f) or 4(j)(1).

Proving Service

Rule 4(l)

Time Limit for Service

Rule 4(m)

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SERVICE OF PROCESSWITHIN U.S. JURISDICTION

Person or Entity Procedure
1. following state law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the state where the district court is located or where service is made; or 2. doing any of the following: An individual, other than a minor, an incompetent person, or a person who was waived service of process (A) delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally; (B) leaving a copy of each at the individual's dwelling or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there; or (C) delivering a copy of each to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process A minor or an incompetent person in a judicial district of the United States must be served by following state law for serving a summons or like process on such a defendant in an action brought in the courts of general jurisdiction of the state where service is made. (A) in the manner prescribed by Rule 4(e)(1) for serving an individual; or (B) by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process andif the agent is one authorized by statute and the statute so requiresby also mailing a copy of each to the defendant

Rule

Rule 4(e)

A minor or incompetent person

Rule 4(f)

A corporation, partnership, or association

Rule 4(h)

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The United States

U.S. agency, corporation, officer in official capacity

U.S. officer or employee sued individually

To serve the United States, a party must: i. deliver a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the United States attorney for the district where the action is broughtor to an assistant United States attorney or clerical employee whom the United States attorney designates in a writing filed with the court clerkor ii. send a copy of each by registered or certified mail to the civil-process clerk at the United States attorney's office; iii. send a copy of each by registered or certified mail to the Attorney General of the United States at Washington, D.C.; and iv. if the action challenges an order of a nonparty agency or officer of the United States, send a copy of each by registered or certified mail to the agency or officer. A party must serve the United States and also send a copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified mail to the agency, corporation, officer, or employee. To serve a United States officer or employee sued in an individual capacity for an act or omission occurring in connection with duties performed on the United States behalf (whether or not the officer or employee is also sued in an official capacity), a party must serve the United States and also serve the officer or employee under Rule 4(e), (f), or (g).

Rule 4(i)(1)

Rule 4(i)(2)

Rule 4(i)(3)

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State or Local Government

A state, a municipal corporation, or any other state-created governmental organization that is subject to suit must be served by: (A) delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to its chief executive officer; or (B) serving a copy of each in the manner prescribed by that state's law for serving a summons or like process on such a defendant

Rule 4(j)(2)

REQUIREMENTS OF A SUMMONS RULE 4(a)(1)

1. name the court and the parties; 2. be directed to the defendant; 3. state the name and address of the plaintiff's attorney orif unrepresentedof the plaintiff; 4. state the time within which the defendant must appear and defend; 5. notify the defendant that a failure to appear and defend will result in a default judgment against the defendant for the relief demanded in the complaint; 6. be signed by the clerk; and 7. bear the court's seal

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