ServeLog · Resources
Process service resources
Service of process is governed by the court that issued the paper. That means the rules change state by state, and often county by county. These are the sources rather than a summary.
Service rules vary by jurisdiction, and the differences are not cosmetic. Who may serve, permitted methods, substituted service, time limits and what the affidavit or proof of service must contain are all set by the state or the individual court. Always work from the rules of the court that issued the paper.
ClearStack Apps is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by any court or association listed here.
Federal rules
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
The official current rules from the US Courts, free, including the rules committee notes.
- FRCP Rule 4 — Summons
The federal service rule in free full text at Cornell’s Legal Information Institute, with cross-references to state practice.
- United States Courts
Court locator, forms and the local rules of each district.
Associations and state rules
- National Association of Professional Process Servers
The main US trade body. Education, certification and legislative tracking.
- NAPPS — State associations directory
The fastest route to the association that actually knows your state’s rules and licensing position.
- National Center for State Courts — court resources
Research and practice material across the state court systems.
- LawHelp — state legal help directory
State-by-state self-help portals. Often the quickest way to find a particular state court’s own service instructions.
Honest scope
ServeLog records your attempts, GPS and photos and prepares a draft affidavit of service from them. The affidavit format, the wording your court accepts and the notarisation requirement are set by that court. Check every field against the real form before you file it.