§ Rule 5 Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers

Rule 5. Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers

(a) Service; When Required.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, every order required by its terms to be served, every pleading subsequent to the original complaint unless the court otherwise orders because of numerous defendants, every paper relating to discovery required to be served upon a party unless the court otherwise orders, every written motion other than one which may be heard ex parte, and every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, designation of record on appeal, and similar paper shall be served upon each of the parties. No service need be made on parties in default for failure to appear except that pleadings asserting new or additional claims for relief against them shall be served upon them in the manner provided for service of summons in Rule 4.

(2) In an action begun by seizure of property, in which no person need be or is named as defendant, any service required to be made prior to the filing of an answer, claim, or appearance shall be made upon the person having custody or possession of the property at the time of its seizure.

(b) Making service.

(1) Service under Rules 5(a) and 77(d) on a party represented by an attorney is made on the attorney unless the court orders service on the party.

(2) Service under Rule 5(a) is made by:

(A) Delivering a copy to the person served by:

(i) handing it to the person;

(ii) leaving it at the person's office with a clerk or other person in charge, or, if no one is in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place in the office; or

(iii) if the person has no office or the office is closed, leaving it at the person's dwelling house or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion residing there.

(B) Mailing a copy to the last known address of the person served. Service by mail is complete on mailing.

(D) Delivering a copy by any other means, including electronic means, consented to in writing by the person served. Service by electronic means is complete on transmission; service by other consented means is complete when the person making service delivers the copy to the agency designated to make delivery. If authorized by the clerk of the court, a party may make service under this subparagraph (D) through the court's transmission facilities. Service by electronic means under Rule 5(b)(2)(D) is not effective if the party making service learns that the attempted service did not reach the person to be served.

(c) Same; Numerous Defendants. In any action in which there are unusually large numbers of defendants, the court, upon motion or of its own initiative, may order that service of the pleadings of the defendants and replies thereto need not be made as between the defendants and that any cross-claim, counterclaim, or matter constituting an avoidance or affirmative defense contained therein shall be deemed to be denied or avoided by all other parties and that the filing of any such pleading and service thereof upon the plaintiff constitutes due notice of it to the parties. A copy of every such order shall be served upon the parties in such manner and form as the court directs.

(d) Filing; certificate of service. All papers after the complaint required to be served upon a party, together with a certificate of service, must be filed with the court either before service or within a reasonable time thereafter, but disclosures under Rule 26(a)(1), (1.1), or (2) and the following discovery requests and responses must not be filed until they are used in the proceeding or the court orders filing: depositions; interrogatories; requests for documents or to permit entry upon land; and requests for admission. A notice of discovery proceedings may be filed concurrently with service of discovery papers to demonstrate substantial and bona fide action of record to avoid dismissal for lack of prosecution.

(e) Filing with the court defined. The filing of pleadings and other papers with the court as required by these rules shall be made by filing them with the clerk of the court, except that the judge may permit the papers to be filed with the judge, in which event the judge shall note thereon the filing date and forthwith transmit them to the office of the clerk. Papers may be filed, signed, or verified by electronic means if the necessary equipment is available to the clerk. No documents shall be transmitted to the court by facsimile or electronic means for filing without prior telephonic notification to the clerk of court. Only under emergency circumstances shall documents be filed by facsimile transmission. Any paper filed by electronic means must be followed by an identical signed or otherwise duly executed original, or copy of any electronic transmission other than facsimile transmission, together with the fee as set forth in the Rules For Fees and Costs for District Court or the Rules For Fees and Costs For Circuit Court, mailed within 24 hours of the electronic transmission. The clerk upon receiving the original or copy shall note its date of actual delivery, and shall replace the facsimile or other electronic transmission in the court file. A paper filed by electronic means in compliance with this rule constitutes a written paper for the purpose of applying these rules. No document which exceeds ten (10) pages in length may be filed by
facsimile. All format requirements contained in applicable rules must be followed. The court may reject any paper filed not in compliance with this rule.