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Washington DC Process Serving Laws
(Rules of Civil Procedure in the
United States)
Quick Answers:
Who can be a process server in
Washington DC?
Any adult over the age of eighteen
(18) years old, that is not a party
to the case, or a member of a
corporation or organization that is
a party, may serve (deliver) the
papers.
Does Washington DC require
process servers to be licensed?
No.
Are there any day or time restrictions to
service of process in Washington DC?
No.
Washington DC Rules of Civil
Procedure are from
CivilProcedure.info
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
site
Because the laws of process service
may change from time to time, please
check the
Washington DC Courts website
for updated rules of civil procedure
in Washington DC.
Click here to view the Rules of
Civil Procedure and other Court
Rules for Washington DC / The
District of Columbia.
Rules of Civil
Procedure in Washington DC:
FROM TITLE VI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Rule 25. Filing and Service.
(a) Filing.
(1) Filing with the Clerk. A
paper required or permitted to
be filed in this court must be
filed with the Clerk.
(2) Filing: Method and
Timeliness.
(A) In general. Filing may
be accomplished by mail
addressed to the Clerk, but
filing is not timely unless
the Clerk receives the
papers within the time fixed
for filing.
(B) Inmate filing. A paper
filed by an inmate confined
in an institution is timely
if deposited in the
institution’s internal
mailing system on or before
the last day for filing. If
an institution has a system
designed for legal mail, the
inmate must use that system
to receive the benefit of
this rule. Timely filing may
be shown by a declaration in
compliance with 28 U.S.C. §
1746 or by a notarized
statement, either of which
must set forth the date of
deposit and state that
first-class postage has been
prepaid.
(b) Service of All Papers
Required. Unless a rule requires
service by the Clerk, a party must,
at or before the time of filing a
paper, serve a copy on the other
parties to the appeal or review.
Service on a party represented by
counsel must be made on the party’s
counsel.
(c) Manner of Service.
(1) Service may be any of the
following:
(A) personal, including
delivery to a responsible
person at the office of
counsel;
(B) by mail;
(C) by third-party
commercial carrier for
delivery within 3 calendar
days; or
(D) by electronic means, if
the party being served
consents in writing.
(2) Requests for expedited or
emergency consideration by this
court must be personally served
on all counsel and any party not
represented by counsel.
(3) When reasonable, considering
such factors as the immediacy of
the relief sought, distance, and
cost, service on a party must be
by a manner at least as
expeditious as the 30 manner
used to file the paper with the
court.
(4) Service by mail or by
commercial carrier is complete
on mailing or delivery to the
carrier. Service by electronic
means is complete on
transmission, unless the party
making service is notified that
the paper was not received by
the party served.
(d) Proof of Service.
(1) A paper presented for filing
must contain either of the
following:
(A) an acknowledgment of
service by the person
served; or
(B) proof of service
consisting of a statement by
the person who made service
certifying:
(i) the date and manner
of service;
(ii) the names of the
persons served; and
(iii) the mail or
electronic addresses,
facsimile numbers, or
addresses of the places
of delivery, as
appropriate for the
manner of service.
(2) Proof of service may appear
on or be affixed to the papers
filed.
(e) Non-acceptance of Papers by
Clerk. If any paper is not
accepted by the Clerk for filing,
the Clerk must promptly notify the
persons named in the certificate of
service.
Rule 31. Serving and Filing Briefs.
(a) Time to Serve and File a
Brief.
(1) The appellant must serve and
file a brief within 40 days
after the Clerk has notified the
parties that the record is filed
or, following such notice, after
the court has denied a motion
for summary affirmance. The
appellee must serve and file a
brief within 30 days after the
appellant’s brief is served. The
appellant may serve and file a
reply brief within 21 days after
service of the appellee’s brief,
but a reply brief must be filed
at least 7 days before oral
argument.
(2) In consolidated appeals,
individual appellants or
appellees may join to file a
single brief. If separate briefs
are filed by individual
appellants or appellees, the
responsive brief or briefs must
be filed in the time provided in
paragraph (1) of this rule, with
the time beginning to run after
service of the latest brief to
which a response is made.
(b) Number of Copies. An
original and 3 copies of each brief
must be filed with the Clerk, but if
the case is to be heard en banc,
then an original and 9 copies of
each brief must be filed. A copy of
each brief must be served on counsel
for each separately represented
party, as well as on each
unrepresented party. By order in a
particular case, the court may
require the filing or service of a
different number of copies.
(c) Consequence of Failure to
File. If an appellant fails to
file a brief within the time
provided by this rule, or within the
time as extended, an appellee may
move to dismiss the appeal. A party
who fails to file a brief will not
be heard at oral argument unless the
court grants permission.
Search-For-Servers.com does not warrant the accuracy of these laws. The laws
listed on Search-For-Servers.com are
only a starting point for reference,
and are not meant to be legal advice or a replacement for legal console. Please consult a process
server in your area, county, or
state if you have any questions
about process service there.
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