{"id":3954,"date":"2017-08-06T17:16:48","date_gmt":"2017-08-06T17:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=3954"},"modified":"2023-02-20T03:35:53","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T03:35:53","slug":"rule-4-summons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=3954","title":{"rendered":"2.) Serve a ‘Notice of Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of Summons’ to the Defendant"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 The page is continued from<\/span> Civil Rights Self-Help<\/a> >>>><\/span> File a Complaint with the Court<\/a>:
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*******************************<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For this step – if filing a federal case<\/em> – you will need the following forms:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Summons in a Civil Action – Form AO 440<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Waiver of the Service of Summons – Form AO 399<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    *********************************<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>At the same time you file the<\/span> Complaint<\/a> (or after), you may present a completed<\/span> Summons <\/em>form<\/a> to the<\/span><\/strong> Clerk.\u00a0 You will need one form per<\/strong><\/span> Defendant<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0If the<\/span>\u00a0Summons<\/a> are properly filled out, the Clerk must sign, seal, and then issue a copy<\/em> of each signed and sealed<\/span>\u00a0Summons<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(or just one<\/span> Summons<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>if there is only<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>one<\/span>\u00a0Defendant<\/a><\/strong>)<\/span><\/em> back to the\u00a0<\/span>Plaintiff<\/a>\u00a0for use in\u00a0serving\u00a0<\/em>the<\/span>\u00a0Defendant(s)<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em>The court may permit a<\/span> Summons<\/a> to be amended, if needed<\/em>. <\/span><\/strong>[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Summons Court Form:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Summons in a Civil Action<\/a>– Form\u00a0AO 440<\/em><\/a>
    \n<\/span>(    same form on UScourts.gov<\/a>)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    ***********************************<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2<\/span> – Send the\u00a0Defendant(s) a\u00a0Notice of a Lawsuit form<\/a>, two\u00a0Waivers<\/a>, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope via Certified Mail<\/a>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 On <\/span>the Summons form<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>there is a PROOF OF SERVICE section on page 2 wherein the Person you<\/em> select<\/strong>\u00a0to Serve the Defendant must explain:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    1.) Where they delivered the form.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    2.) What their fee ($) for \u201ctravel expenses and cost for service\u201d is.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 Because the<\/span>\u00a0Defendant<\/a> has \u201ca duty to avoid unnecessary expenses of serving the<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
    \n    Summons<\/a>\u201d <\/strong><\/span>(see Rule 4(d)(1)<\/strong><\/a><\/span>)<\/em><\/span>, in order to offer the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Defendant<\/a> the opportunity to\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>avoid paying the service fee, the\u00a0<\/span>Plaintiff<\/a> should send the following, via <\/span>certified\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>mail<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(ask your local USPS<\/a> employee),<\/span><\/em>\u00a0to each<\/span>\u00a0Defendant<\/a>:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    1.) One<\/em> signed copy of \u201c<\/span>Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons- Form ao398<\/em><\/a><\/strong>\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    2.) Two<\/em> copies of \u201c<\/span>Waiver of the Service of Summons- Form ao399<\/em><\/a>\u201d (“Waiver”).<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    3.) One\u00a0copy of the<\/span>\u00a0Complaint<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    4.) One<\/em> stamped, self-addressed envelope or other prepaid means.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The<\/span>\u00a0Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons\u00a0Form ao398<\/em><\/a>\u00a0includes a section which informs the<\/span>\u00a0Defendant(s)<\/a>\u00a0that they may sign one copy of the<\/span> Waiver<\/a>, and <\/span><\/strong>then return it using the stamped, self-addressed envelope <\/strong>(or other means)<\/em> in order\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>to waive the cost of Service fee.\u00a0 The\u00a0<\/span>Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons\u00a0Form ao398<\/em><\/a> also explains to the defendant that<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0the second copy of the<\/span> Waiver<\/a>\u00a0is included as a receipt for their records. \u00a0When the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Plaintiff<\/a> files a<\/span>\u00a0Waiver<\/a>, proof of service is no longer required and these rules apply as if a\u00a0Summons<\/a> and\u00a0Complaint<\/a> had been served at the time of filing the\u00a0Waiver<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>(<\/span>Rule 4(d) through (m)<\/strong><\/a><\/span> explain this section)<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Forms Associated with Step 2:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    If the\u00a0Defendant<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0returns the\u00a0Waiver<\/a>\u00a0in a timely manner:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 The<\/span>\u00a0Defendant<\/a>\u00a0does not need to serve an<\/span>\u00a0Answer<\/a>\u00a0to the<\/span>\u00a0Complaint<\/a> until 60 days after the forms were sent to them<\/span><\/strong>\u2013\u00a0<\/span>or 90 days if the<\/span>\u00a0Defendant<\/a>\u00a0is outside any judicial district of the United States.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>(explained in<\/em> Rule 4(d)(3)<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span>)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    If the Defendant does\u00a0not<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>return the Waiver<\/a> in a timely manner,\u00a0go to Step 3.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    ***********************************<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    c.) If Defendant does not return ‘Waiver’, Serve them the ‘Summons’<\/a><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Next Rule:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Rule 4.1 – Serving Other Process<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    ************************************<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    Transcript of Rule 4:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Click to read the text of the various sections in context with the summaries we<\/a> created:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 1:<\/span> Rules 4(a) and (b)<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> – Clerk of Court must Sign & Seal the Summons<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2:<\/span> (d) and (k)\u00a0Waiving Service of Summons<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 3: <\/span>Rule (c),<\/span>\u00a0and (e) through (m)<\/span> – How to Serve the Summons to the Defendant<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    (n)\u00a0Asserting Jurisdiction<\/a> Over Property or Assets.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (1)\u00a0Federal Law<\/em>. The court may assert<\/span> jurisdiction<\/a> over property if authorized by a<\/span> federal statute<\/a>. Notice to claimants of the property must be given as provided in the<\/span> statute<\/a> or<\/em><\/span> by serving a<\/a><\/span>\u00a0summons<\/a> under this rule<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (2)\u00a0State Law<\/em>. On a showing that<\/span> personal jurisdiction<\/a> over a<\/span>\u00a0defendant<\/a> cannot be obtained in the district where the action is brought by reasonable efforts to serve a<\/span>\u00a0summons<\/a> under this rule, the court may assert<\/span> jurisdiction<\/a> over the<\/span>\u00a0defendant<\/a>\u2019s assets found in the district.<\/span> \u00a0Jurisdiction<\/a> is acquired by seizing the assets under the circumstances and in the manner provided by state law in that district<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    References:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All material utilized in accordance with Fair Use<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    [1]: United States Courts, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (2017):\u00a0\u00a0www.uscourts.gov\/rules-policies\/current-rules-practice-procedure\/federal-rules-civil-procedure<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    [2]: (Rules 4(a) and 4(b)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    [2]:\u00a0All definitions, unless otherwise indicated, from:\u00a0Black\u2019s Law Dictionary\u00a0Deluxe Tenth Edition\u00a0by Henry Campbell Black & Editor in Chief Bryan A. Garner<\/a>. ISBN: 978-0-314-62130-6<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Next Rule:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Rule 4.1- Serving Other Process<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    ******************************************<\/span><\/p>\n

    Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Simplified<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All Federal Rules of Procedure Simplified<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Intro to Law<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \u00a0 \u00a0 The page is continued from Civil Rights Self-Help >>>> File a Complaint with the Court: ******************************* \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For this step – if filing a federal case – you will need the following forms: Summons in a Civil Action – Form AO 440 Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a … Continue reading 2.) Serve a ‘Notice of Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of Summons’ to the Defendant<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":17807,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3954","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3954"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17903,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3954\/revisions\/17903"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}