North Carolina service of process: a Rule 4 starting point.

What Rule 4 addresses

Issuance, timing, method, and proof.

North Carolina General Statutes Rule 4 addresses how a summons is issued, how the action may be continued when service is not completed, available methods of service for different recipients, and how service or acceptance is documented.

Before sending an assignment

• 01Identify the issuing court, county, case number, document type, and current deadline.
• 02Provide counsel's written service instructions and identify the person or legal entity to be served.
• 03Confirm the address, known access conditions, and whether rush or same-day review is requested.
• 04Use the protected document handoff after Carolina Server confirms acceptance and the secure route.

Important limits

Different recipients and case types can require different methods. A process server should not choose the legal strategy, calculate a disputed deadline, or substitute a general summary for advice from the attorney responsible for the matter.