51 jurisdictions · primary-source cited
Service-of-process rules, state by state
Self-represented litigants and paralegals: pick your state for the licensing, deadlines, and sheriff-route rules that govern delivering legal papers — each answer linked to its primary source.
ProcessServerState provides procedural-information-only summaries of state process-server rules. This is not legal advice. Service of process is a critical step in litigation — if you fail to serve correctly, your case can be dismissed. For complex or contested matters, consult a licensed attorney or a court self-help center. Not affiliated with any court or sheriff's office.
Verified against state Rules of Civil Procedure · Last full pass June 16, 2026
How it works
From your state to the governing rule, in one click
A procedural reference, not a service. We summarize the rule and point you to the source — we do not give legal advice or draft documents.
- Step 1
Pick your state
Search 50 states plus DC. Your selection stays in your browser — it is never sent to a server.
- Step 2
Read the five-card answer
Licensing, who may serve, the service deadline, the sheriff/marshal route, and the governing statute — each in one card.
- Step 3
Follow the citation
Every card links to the primary state rule or statute, with the date we last verified it. Confirm with your court before you serve.
UIDDA layer
Interstate service, mapped
The Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act streamlines out-of-state subpoenas. See which states have adopted it and where each adoption is codified.
View UIDDA adoptionUIDDA adoption
Which states have adopted the UIDDA
Adoption status across all 50 states plus DC. Select a state for its adopting statute and full service rules.
- ALadopted
- AKadopted
- AZadopted
- ARadopted
- CAadopted
- COadopted
- CTadopted
- DEadopted
- DCadopted
- FLadopted
- GAadopted
- HIadopted
- IDadopted
- ILadopted
- INadopted
- IAadopted
- KSadopted
- KYadopted
- LAadopted
- MEadopted
- MDadopted
- MAnot
- MIadopted
- MNadopted
- MSadopted
- MOnot
- MTadopted
- NEadopted
- NVadopted
- NHnot
- NJadopted
- NMadopted
- NYadopted
- NCadopted
- NDadopted
- OHadopted
- OKadopted
- ORadopted
- PAadopted
- RIadopted
- SCadopted
- SDadopted
- TNadopted
- TXadopted
- UTadopted
- VTadopted
- VAadopted
- WAadopted
- WVadopted
- WIadopted
- WYnot
Common questions
Service of process, in plain English
Editorial standards
Cited, dated, and honestly flagged
Every state row links to a primary source with the date we last verified it. Where a fact could not be fully confirmed, we flag it rather than guess.
Editorial review status: Reviewer attribution pending — we are recruiting a credentialed reviewer (ex-process-server with a NAPPS credential, or a NALA/NFPA-certified civil-procedure paralegal) before this site applies for advertising. We will not display a fabricated reviewer.
Read the full methodology and the complete source manifest.
Find the service-of-process rule for your state
Browse the full 50-state matrix, or read how each rule was verified and where to confirm it.