IN · rules
Ind. Trial Rule 4.12
Summons: Service by sheriff or other officer
Effective January 1, 1970
(A) In general.
Whenever service is made by delivering a copy to a person personally or by leaving a copy at
his dwelling house or place of employment as provided by Rule 4.1, summons shall be issued
to and served by the sheriff, his deputy, or some person specially or regularly appointed by
the court for that purpose. Service shall be effective if made by a person not otherwise
authorized by these rules, but proof of service by such a person must be made by him as a
witness or by deposition without allowance of expenses therefor as costs. The person to
whom the summons is delivered for service must act promptly and exercise reasonable care
to cause service to be made.
(B) Special service by police officers.
A sheriff, his deputy, or any full-time state or municipal police officer may serve summons in
any county of this state if he agrees or has agreed to make the service. When specially reques-
ted in the praecipe for summons, the complaint and summons shall be delivered to such
officer by the clerk or the attorney for the person seeking service. No agreement with the
sheriff or his deputy for such service in the sheriff’s own county shall be permitted. In no
event shall any expenses agreed upon under this provision be assessed or recovered as costs
or affect court costs otherwise imposed for regular service.
(C) Service in other counties.
A summons may be served in any county in this state. If service is to be made in another
county, the summons may be issued by the clerk for service therein to the sheriff of such
county or to a person authorized to make service by these rules.
(D) Service outside the state.
Personal service, when permitted by these rules to be made outside the state, may be made
there by any disinterested person or by the attorney representing the person seeking such
service. The expenses of such person may be assessed as costs only if they are reasonable
and if service by mail or other public means cannot be made or is not successful.
Provenance
- Source
- rules.incourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-02
- Edition
- supplied-in-01-2026-08-01
- Content hash
23c19cc872062d90e5936579852fb87c03abd93958aeaa538b2238dd0dab2c38
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