RULE 5. SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
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(b) Service--How made. Whenever under these rules service is required or permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney, the service must be made upon the attorney unless service upon the party is ordered by the court. Service upon the attorney or upon a party must be made by delivering a copy to the attorney or party, or by facsimile transmission if available to the attorney or party, or by mailing or delivering via third-party commercial carrier a copy to the attorney or party at the attorney's or party's last known address or, if no address is known, upon order of the court by leaving it with the clerk of the court. Delivery of a copy within this rule means: handing it to the attorney or to the party; or, leaving it at the attorney's or party's office with a clerk or other individual in chargethereof; or, if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place therein; or, if the office is closed or the party to be served has no office, leaving it at the party's dwelling or usual place of abode with some individual of suitable age and discretion then residing therein. Service by mail is complete upon mailing. Service via a third-party commercial carrier is complete upon deposit of the paper to be served with the commercial carrier.
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(f) Proof of Service. Proof of service under this rule may be made as provided in Rule 4 or by certificate of an attorney showing that the attorney has made service pursuant to subdivision (b).
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rule 5 was amended effective 1971, July 1, 1981; March 1, 1986; January 1, 1988; March 1, 1990; March 1, 1992, on an emergency basis; March 1, 1994; January 1, 1995; March 1, 1998; March 1, 1999.
Rule 5 applies to service of papers other than "process." In contrast, Rule 4 governs civil jurisdiction and service of process. When a statute or rule requiring service does not pertain to service of process, nor require personal service under Rule 4, nor specify how service is to be made, service may be made as provided in Rule 5(b).
Subdivision (b) was amended, effective March 1, 1999, to permit service via a third-party commercial carrier as an alternative to the Postal Service. The requirement for a "third-party commercial carrier" means the carrier may not be a party to nor interested in the action, and it must be the regular business of the carrier to make deliveries for profit. A law firm may not act as or provide its own commercial carrier service with service complete upon deposit. In addition, the phase "commercial carrier" does not include electronic delivery services. Service via e-mail is not permitted, and service via facsimile transmission is already covered by the Rule.
SOURCES: Procedure Committee Minutes of April 30-May 1, 1998, page 3; January 29-30, 1998, page 18; September 26-27, 1996, pages 16-17, 20; September 23-24, 1993, pages 19-20; April 29-30, 1993, page 20-21; November 7-8, 1991, page 3; October 25-26, 1990, pages 10-12; April 20, 1989, page 2; December 3, 1987, page 11; May 21-22, 1987, pages 17-18; February 19-20, 1987, page 4; September 18-19, 1986, page 8; November 30, 1984, pages 26-27; October 18, 1984, pages 8-11; November 29-30, 1979, page 2; September 20-21, 1979, pages 4-5; Rule 5, FRCivP.
STATUTES AFFECTED:
SUPERSEDED: Sections 28-0511, 28-0630, 28-2810, 28-2811, 28-2812, 28-2813, 28-2814, 28-2819, 28-2820, 28-2821, 28-3005, 31-0510, NDRC 1943.
CROSS REFERENCE: Rules 4 (Persons Subject to Jurisdiction-Process-Service), 45 (Subpoena), and 77 (District Courts and Clerks), NDRCivP; Rule 49 (Service and Filing of Papers), NDRCrimP; Rules 6.4 (Exhibits), 7.1 (Judgments, Orders and Decrees), NDROC.