In Re: Order Amending Rule 1930.4 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure ( 2022 )

Rule 1930.4. Service of Original Process in Domestic Relations Matters.
— The rule text is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following text —
(a) Personal Service.
(1) Persons Who May Serve. A sheriff or competent adult, as defined
in Pa.R.Civ.P. 76, may effectuate personal service of original
process in domestic relations matters, including Protection of Victims
of Sexual Violence or Intimidation matters.
(2) Manner of Service.
(i) A sheriff or competent adult may serve original process:
(A) by handing a copy of the original process to the
defendant;
(B) at the defendant’s residence by handing a copy of the
original process to:
(I) an adult member of the family with whom the
defendant resides; but if an adult family member
is unavailable, then to an adult in charge of the
residence; or
(II) the clerk or manager of the hotel, inn, apartment
house, boarding house, or other place of
lodging; or
(C) at the defendant’s office or usual place of business by
handing a copy of the original process to the
defendant’s agent or the person for the time being in
charge; or
(ii) pursuant to special order of court.
(3) Service in Protection From Abuse and Protection of Victims of
Sexual Violence or Intimidation Matters.
(i) If the sheriff or competent adult cannot complete personal
service within 48 hours after a Protection From Abuse or a
Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation
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petition is filed, the court may authorize alternative service by
special order as set forth in subdivision (a)(2)(ii).
(ii) Alternative service may include, but is not limited to, service
by mail pursuant to subdivision (b) or service by commercial
carrier pursuant to subdivision (c).
(b) Service by Mail.
(1) In domestic relations matters, except Protection from Abuse and
Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation matters, a
party may serve the original process, a notice or order to appear, if
required, and other orders or documents, as necessary, by United
States Postal Service (USPS) first class regular and certified mail to
the defendant’s last known address.
(i) The party serving the original process by mail shall:
(A) restrict delivery of the certified mail to the addressee
only; and
(B) request a return receipt, which may be an electronic
return receipt.
(ii) Completed Service by Mail. Service of original process is
complete when:
(A) the return receipt bears the defendant’s purported
signature indicating receipt of the certified mail;
(B) the return receipt acknowledges delivery of the certified
mail to the defendant consistent with USPS policy and
the first class regular mail is not returned within 15 days
of mailing; or
(C) USPS returns the certified mail indicating the
defendant refused delivery, but the first class regular
mail is not returned within 15 days of mailing.
(iii) Incomplete Service by Mail.
(A) Service of original process is incomplete when:
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(I) USPS returns the certified mail with a notation
indicating that the mail was unclaimed by the
defendant; or
(II) is otherwise inconsistent with subdivision
(b)(1)(ii).
(B) If service by mail is incomplete, the party attempting
service shall utilize another method pursuant to these
rules to effectuate service.
(2) Protection from Abuse and Protection of Victims of Sexual
Violence or Intimidation Matters. A party may serve original
process by mail, if authorized by the court under subdivision (a)(2)(ii).
(c) Service by Commercial Carrier.
(1) In all domestic relations matters, except Protection from Abuse and
Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation matters, a
party may serve the original process, a notice or order to appear, if
required, and other orders or documents, as necessary, by
commercial carrier and USPS first class regular mail to the
defendant’s last known address.
(i) The party serving the original process by commercial carrier
shall:
(A) restrict delivery of the commercial carrier’s package to
the defendant’s address only; and
(B) request that the commercial carrier provide a return
receipt, which may be an electronic return receipt,
detailing the date of delivery, the delivery address, and
to whom the package was delivered.
(ii) Completed Service by Commercial Carrier. Service of
original process is complete when:
(A) the return receipt bears the defendant’s purported
signature indicating receipt of the commercial carrier’s
package;
(B) the return receipt acknowledges delivery of the
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commercial carrier’s package to the defendant’s
address consistent with the commercial carrier’s policy
and the first class regular mail is not returned within 15
days; or
(C) the commercial carrier returns the package indicating
the defendant refused delivery, but the first class
regular mail is not returned within 15 days of mailing.
(iii) Incomplete Service by Commercial Carrier.
(A) Service of original process is incomplete when:
(I) the commercial carrier returns the package
indicating that the package was unclaimed by
the defendant; or
(II) is otherwise inconsistent with subdivision
(c)(1)(ii).
(B) If service by commercial carrier is incomplete, the party
attempting service shall utilize another service method
pursuant to these rules.
(2) Protection from Abuse and Protection of Victims of Sexual
Violence or Intimidation Matters. A party may serve original
process by commercial carrier, if authorized by the court under
subdivision (a)(2)(ii).
(d) Acceptance of Service. The defendant or the defendant’s authorized
agent may accept service of original process as set forth in Pa.R.Civ.P.
402(b).
(e) Time for Service.
(1) Service Within the Commonwealth. Within 30 days of filing the
original process, a person or party shall serve the original process
on a defendant located within the Commonwealth.
(2) Service Outside of the Commonwealth.
(i) Within 90 days of filing the original process, a person or party
shall serve the original process on a defendant located
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outside the Commonwealth as:
(A) authorized by this rule;
(B) provided by the law of the jurisdiction in which
defendant will be served;
(C) provided by treaty; or
(D) directed by the foreign authority in response to a letter
rogatory or request.
(ii) Protection from Abuse and Protection of Victims of
Sexual Violence or Intimidation Matters.
(A) A person shall serve original process on a defendant
located outside of the Commonwealth by personal
service as provided:
(I) in subdivision (a); or
(II) by the law in the jurisdiction where the
defendant resides or is located.
(B) If personal service is not completed within 48 hours
after the filing of the original process, a person or party
may serve a defendant located outside of the
Commonwealth by other means authorized by this rule.
(f) Service of Original Process on an Incarcerated Party.
(1) A party serving original process on an incarcerated party in a
domestic relations action shall include:
(i) a notice of any proceeding; and
(ii) a specific notice of the incarcerated party’s right to petition the
court to participate in the proceeding.
(2) A party may petition the court to request that the incarcerated party
participate in a proceeding when:
(i) the incarcerated party seeks to participate as provided by
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statute or rule; or
(ii) another party requires the incarcerated party’s participation or
testimony.
(g) Reinstatement of Original Process.
(1) If a person or party cannot complete service within the time required
by subdivision (e), the prothonotary shall reinstate the original
process upon the party’s praecipe:
(i) accompanied by the original process; or
(ii) indicating that the original process has been lost or destroyed
and accompanied by a substituted original process.
(2) A person or party shall serve the reinstated original process within
the time periods set forth in subdivision (e).
(3) A party may:
(i) request the prothonotary reinstate the original process at any
time or any number of times; or
(ii) name a new party defendant in a reinstated original process
only if the complaint or petition has not been served on a
defendant.
(h) Proof of Service.
(1) Original Process Served.
(i) A party or person serving the original process shall complete
a proof of service, which shall be by an affidavit if an individual
other than a sheriff serves the original process.
(ii) The proof of service shall state:
(A) the date and time of service;
(B) the place of service;
(C) the manner in which service was made;
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(D) the identity of the person served;
(E) other facts necessary for the court to determine
whether proper service has been made; and
(F) the additional documents required in subdivision (h)(3),
as necessary.
(2) Personal Service Pursuant to Subdivision (a). The proof of
service shall be filed in the appropriate filing office within ten days of
the date of service.
(3) Service by Mail or Commercial Carrier Pursuant to Subdivisions
(b) or (c).
(i) Service Complete under Subdivision (b)(1)(ii)(A) or
(c)(1)(ii)(A).
(A) The proof of service shall include the return receipt
bearing the defendant’s purported signature; and
(B) The proof of service shall be filed within ten days of the
date the defendant signed the return receipt.
(ii) Service Complete under Subdivision (b)(1)(ii)(B) or
(c)(1)(ii)(B).
(A) The proof of service shall include:
(I) the return receipt or envelope acknowledging
delivery to the defendant’s residence consistent
with USPS or the commercial carrier’s policy;
and
(II) an affidavit indicating the first class regular mail
was not returned within 15 days of mailing.
(B) The proof of service shall be filed within ten days of the
date:
(I) the return receipt acknowledges delivery to the
defendant’s address consistent with USPS or
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the commercial carrier’s policy; and
(II) after the passage of time set forth in
subdivisions (b)(1)(ii)(B) or (c)(1)(ii)(B).
(iii) Service Complete under Subdivision (b)(1)(ii)(C) or
(c)(1)(ii)(C).
(A) The proof of service shall include:
(I) the return receipt or envelope acknowledging
the attempted delivery to the defendant’s
residence and that delivery had been refused;
and
(II) an affidavit stating the first class regular mail
was not returned within 15 days after mailing.
(B) The proof of service shall be filed within ten days of the
date:
(I) the return receipt acknowledges the attempted
delivery to the defendant’s address consistent
with USPS or the commercial carrier’s policy;
and
(II) after the passage of time set forth in
subdivisions (b)(1)(ii)(C) or (c)(1)(ii)(C).
(4) Acceptance of Service Pursuant to Subdivision (d).
(i) If the defendant or the defendant’s authorized agent accepts
service of the original process as authorized in subdivision (d),
the defendant or the defendant’s authorized agent shall sign
an Acceptance of Service on the form set forth in Pa.R.Civ.P.
402(b).
(ii) The Acceptance of Service shall be filed in the appropriate
filing office within ten days of accepting service.
(5) Original Process Not Served.
(i) If a party or person cannot serve the defendant within the time
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allowed in subdivision (e), the party or person attempting
service:
(A) shall complete a proof of no service promptly; and
(B) file the proof of no service in the appropriate filing office
within ten days of the expiration of time allowed for
service in subdivision (e).
(ii) If a party or a person other than a sheriff attempts service of
the original process, the proof of no service shall be by an
affidavit stating with particularity the efforts made to effect
service.
(i) Appearance at Hearing or Conference. A party appearing for a
hearing or conference will be deemed to have been served.
***
Comment: Additional alternative procedures for service outside the
Commonwealth are set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 5323 and 5329(2). For Protection
from Abuse and Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation matters
served outside of the Commonwealth, the party shall attempt personal service first
before service can be made by certified and first class regular mail or by other
means prescribed in subdivision (e)(2).
Subdivision (f) addresses service of original process on an incarcerated
party, and the incarcerated party’s right to seek permission to appear and testify.
See Vanaman v. Cowgill, 526 A.2d 1226 (Pa. Super. 1987) and Salemo v. Salemo,
554 A.2d 563 (Pa. Super. 1989).
The Domestic Relations Section is the filing office for child support, spousal
support, and alimony pendente lite cases. See Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.4(a).
The timing of an attorney’s solicitation of a prospective client in actions
governed by the Family Court Rules, see Pa.R.Civ.P. 1931(a), and actions pursuant
to the Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act, see 42 Pa.C.S.
§§ 62A03 - 62A20, are restricted until proof of service appears on the docket. See
Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 7.3(b)(4).
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