Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

Pa. R. Civ. P. 400 (2026)

Person to Make Service.

✓ current as of May 2026

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Rule 400. Person to Make Service.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) and in Rules 400.1 and 1930.4, original process shall be served within the Commonwealth only by the sheriff.

(b) In addition to service by the sheriff, original process may be served also by a competent adult in the following actions:

(1) a civil action in which the complaint includes a request for injunctive relief under Rule 1531, perpetuation of testimony under Rule 1532, or appointment of a receiver under Rule 1533;

(2) partition;

(3) a declaratory judgment when declaratory relief is the only relief sought; and

(4) a civil action in which there is a complete diversity of citizenship between all plaintiffs and all defendants, and at least one defendant is a citizen of Pennsylvania.

Note

See Rule 76 for the definition of ‘‘competent adult.’’

Service of original process in domestic relations matters is governed by Rule 1930.4.

(c) When the sheriff is a party to the action, original process shall be served by the coroner or other officer authorized by law to perform the duties of coroner.

(d) If service is to be made by the sheriff in a county other than the county in which the action was commenced, the sheriff of the county where service may be made shall be deputized for that purpose by the sheriff of the county where the action was commenced.

Source

The provisions of this Rule 400 adopted July 5, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 2452; amended May 11, 1990, effective immediately, 20 Pa.B. 2737; amended October 2, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 4518; amended May 14, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2767; amended June 14, 1999, effective September 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3191; amended December 16, 2003, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 9; amended January 18, 2022, effective April 1, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 682. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (400572). (Editor’s Note: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania suspended its order of June 14, 1999, published at 29 Pa.B. 3191 (June 26, 1999). See 29 Pa.B. 4859 (September 18, 1999).)