{"id":5189,"date":"2017-08-15T05:29:40","date_gmt":"2017-08-15T05:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=5189"},"modified":"2017-08-17T01:03:34","modified_gmt":"2017-08-17T01:03:34","slug":"rule-c-how-to-serve-the-summons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=5189","title":{"rendered":"Rule (c), and (e) through (m) &#8211; How to Serve the Summons to the Defendant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This page contains an unabridged, summarized version of<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3954\">Rule 4<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">of the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3901\">Federal Rules of Civil Procedure<\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">, followed by a transcript of this section of the rule. \u00a0This section is continued from <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5142\">Step 2<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Step 3:<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Serving The<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">Summons<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">to the Defendant:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">A<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">Summons<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">must be served <em>with<\/em> a copy of the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Complaint<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">to each\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/thelawdictionary.org\/defendant\/\">Defendant<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">within 90 days after filing the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Complaint<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">with the Clerk of Court\u00a0by a responsible party who is at least 18 years old &amp; <em>not<\/em> a party in the case. \u00a0At the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Plaintiff&#8217;s<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">request, the court may order that service be made by a<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmarshals.gov\/\">U.S. marshal or deputy marshal<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">or by a person specially appointed by the court. \u00a0The court <em>must<\/em> so order if the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Plaintiff<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">is authorized to proceed with a<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4238\">Court Fee Waiver <\/a><\/strong><em>(see\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4238\">in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. \u00a71915<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or as a <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/thelawdictionary.org\/seamen\/\">seaman<\/a><\/strong> under<\/em><strong><em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gpo.gov\/fdsys\/pkg\/USCODE-2010-title28\/html\/USCODE-2010-title28-partV-chap123-sec1916.htm\">28 U.S.C. \u00a71916 <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em>to learn about<\/em><strong><em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4238\">Court Fee Waivers<\/a><\/em><\/strong><em>)<\/em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>.<\/strong><em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><strong>There are several methods in which an individual may serve a<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/thelawdictionary.org\/defendant\/\">Defendant(s)<\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">. \u00a0These methods are explained in <span style=\"color: #800000;\">Rules 4(e) through (j)<\/span>, depending on who or which type of individual or organization is being served\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Click for directions:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5118\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(e)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving an Individual Within a Judicial District of the United States.<\/em> <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5120\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(f)<\/span>\u00a0Serving an Individual in a Foreign Country. <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5123\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(g)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving a Minor or an Incompetent Person.<\/em> <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5124\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(h)\u00a0<\/span><em>Serving a Corporation, Partnership, or Association.<\/em> <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5127\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(i)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving the United States and its Agencies, Corporations, Officers, or Employees.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5128\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(j)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving a Foreign, State, or Local Government<\/em>.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Important Information Regarding<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">Personal Jurisdiction<\/a><span style=\"color: #800080;\">:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 Serving a<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">summons<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>to the<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5163\">defendant<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>establishes<\/strong><\/span> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">personal jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>over a<\/strong><\/span> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5163\">defendant<\/a><\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(A) <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">who is subject to the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">jurisdiction<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">of a court of<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">general jurisdiction<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">in the state where the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=2528\">district court<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">is located<\/span>;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(B)<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong> any third party<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5163\">defendant<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>who becomes joined into the case<\/strong><\/span> (under<strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4199\">Rule 14<\/a>)\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">or<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4218\">Rule 19<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">and is served within<\/span><\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=2505\">a judicial district of the United States<\/a><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>and not more than 100 miles from where the<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">summons<\/a><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>was issued; or<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(C) <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>when authorized by<\/strong><\/span> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3973\">a federal statute<\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(2)\u00a0<em>Federal Claim Outside State-Court Jurisdiction<\/em>. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">For a claim that arises under<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3973\">federal law<\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">, serving a<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">summons<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">establishes<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">personal jurisdiction<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">over a defendant if:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">(A)<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> the defendant is not subject to<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">jurisdiction<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">in any<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=2510\">state\u2019s courts<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">of<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">general jurisdiction<\/a>; <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">and<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">(B) <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">exercising<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">jurisdiction<\/a> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">is consistent with the United States Constitution and laws.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>(I)\u00a0Proving Service.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>(1)\u00a0<em>Affidavit Required<\/em>. <\/strong>Unless service is waived, proof of service must be made to the court. \u00a0Except for service by a United States marshal or deputy marshal, proof must be by the server\u2019s affidavit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>(2)\u00a0<em>Service Outside the United States<\/em>. <\/strong>Service not within any judicial district of the United States must be proved as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">(A) if made under<strong> Rule 4(f)(1)<\/strong>, as provided in the applicable treaty or convention; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">(B) if made under<strong> Rule 4(f)(2) or (f)(3)<\/strong>, by a receipt signed by the addressee, or by other evidence satisfying the court that the summons and complaint were delivered to the addressee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>(3)\u00a0<em>Validity of Service; Amending Proof<\/em>. <\/strong>Failure to prove service does not affect the validity of service. The court may permit proof of service to be amended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #993300;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Transcript of Rule 4(c):<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>(c)<\/b> <strong><b>Service<\/b><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(1)\u00a0<em><i><b>In General<\/b><\/i><\/em><b>.<\/b> <span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">A\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">Summons<\/a> <span style=\"color: #800080;\">must be served with a copy of the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Complaint<\/a><\/strong><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">. The<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Plaintiff<\/a> <span style=\"color: #800080;\">is responsible for having the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">Summons<\/a> <span style=\"color: #800080;\">&amp;<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Complaint<\/a> <span style=\"color: #800080;\">served<\/span><\/strong><\/span> within the time allowed by <span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Rule 4(m)<\/b><\/span><em> (<span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #800080;\"><strong>within 90 days after the complaint is filed<\/strong><\/span>, unless the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, in which case the court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period)<\/em><i> <\/i><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #800080;\"><strong>&amp; must furnish the necessary copies to the person who makes service<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(2)\u00a0<em><i><b>By Whom<\/b><\/i><\/em><b>.<\/b><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong> Any person who is at least 18 years old and not a party<\/strong><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\"> may serve a<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">Summons<\/a> <span style=\"color: #800080;\">and<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Complaint<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(3)\u00a0<em><i><b>By a Marshal or Someone Specially Appointed<\/b><\/i><\/em><b>.<\/b> <span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>At the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Plaintiff&#8217;s<\/a> request, the court may order that service be made by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed by the court. The court must so order if the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3947\">Plaintiff<\/a> is authorized to proceed <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4238\"><em>in forma pauperis<\/em> under 28 U.S.C. \u00a71915<\/a><i>\u00a0<\/i>or as a seaman under\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gpo.gov\/fdsys\/pkg\/USCODE-2010-title28\/html\/USCODE-2010-title28-partV-chap123-sec1916.htm\">28 U.S.C. \u00a71916<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5118\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(e)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving an Individual Within a Judicial District of the United States.<\/em> <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5120\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(f)<\/span>\u00a0Serving an Individual in a Foreign Country. <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5123\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(g)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving a Minor or an Incompetent Person.<\/em> <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5124\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(h)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving a Corporation, Partnership, or Association.<\/em> <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5127\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(i)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving the United States and its Agencies, Corporations, Officers, or Employees.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5128\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">(j)<\/span>\u00a0<em>Serving a Foreign, State, or Local Government<\/em>.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(k)\u00a0Territorial Limits of Effective Service.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(1)\u00a0<em>In General<\/em>. <\/strong>Serving a\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">summons<\/a><\/strong> or filing a\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Form-AO399-Waiver-pf-the-Service-of-Summons-Civil-Form-ao399.pdf\">waiver of service<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0establishes <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">personal jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong> over a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5163\">defendant<\/a><\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(A) who is subject to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong> of a court of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">general jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong> in the state where the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=2528\">district court<\/a><\/strong> is located;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(B) who is a party joined under<strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4199\">Rule 14<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or<strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=4218\">19<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and is served within <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=2505\">a judicial district of the United States<\/a><\/strong> and not more than 100 miles from where the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">summons<\/a><\/strong> was issued; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(C) when authorized by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3973\">a federal statute<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(2)\u00a0<em>Federal Claim Outside State-Court Jurisdiction<\/em>. <\/strong>For a claim that arises under <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3973\">federal law<\/a><\/strong>, serving a\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Summons-form-ao440.pdf\">summons<\/a><\/strong> or filing a\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Rule-4-Form-AO399-Waiver-pf-the-Service-of-Summons-Civil-Form-ao399.pdf\">waiver of service<\/a><\/strong> establishes <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\"><strong>personal jurisdiction<\/strong><\/a> over a defendant if:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(A) the defendant is not subject to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong> in any <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=2510\">state\u2019s courts<\/a><\/strong> of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">general jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong>; and<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(B) exercising <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=5206\">jurisdiction<\/a><\/strong> is consistent with the United States Constitution and laws.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(I)\u00a0Proving Service.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(1)\u00a0<em>Affidavit Required<\/em>. <\/strong>Unless service is waived, proof of service must be made to the court. \u00a0Except for service by a United States marshal or deputy marshal, proof must be by the server\u2019s affidavit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(2)\u00a0<em>Service Outside the United States<\/em>. <\/strong>Service not within any judicial district of the United States must be proved as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(A) if made under<strong> Rule 4(f)(1)<\/strong>, as provided in the applicable treaty or convention; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(B) if made under<strong> Rule 4(f)(2) or (f)(3)<\/strong>, by a receipt signed by the addressee, or by other evidence satisfying the court that the summons and complaint were delivered to the addressee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>(3)\u00a0<em>Validity of Service; Amending Proof<\/em>. <\/strong>Failure to prove service does not affect the validity of service. The court may permit proof of service to be amended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>(m)\u00a0Time Limit for Service. <\/strong>If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court \u2013 on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff \u2013 must 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 <strong>subdivision (m)<\/strong> does not apply to service in a foreign country under<strong> Rule 4(f), 4(h)(2), or 4(j)(1) or to service of a notice under\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-viii-provisional-and-final-remedies\/rule-71-enforcing-relief-for-or-against-a-nonparty\/\">Rule 71.1(d)(3)(A)<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Go to entire<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3954\">Rule 4<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/\/?page_id=3901\">Federal Rules of Civil Procedure<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This page contains an unabridged, summarized version of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, followed by a transcript of this section of the rule. \u00a0This section is continued from Step 2. Step 3: Serving The\u00a0Summons\u00a0to the Defendant: \u00a0 \u00a0 A Summons\u00a0must be served with a copy of the Complaint to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=5189\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Rule (c), and (e) through (m) &#8211; How to Serve the Summons to the Defendant<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3954,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5189","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5189","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=5189"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5258,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5189\/revisions\/5258"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}