Ohio Civ.R. 4.1

All methods of service within this state, except service by publication as provided in Civ.R. 4.4(A),

are described in this rule. Methods of out-of-state service and for service in a foreign country are

described in Civ.R. 4.3 and 4.5. Provisions for waiver of service are described in Civ.R. 4.7.

(A) Service by clerk

(1) Methods of service

(a) Service by United States certified or express mail

Evidenced by return receipt signed by any person accepting

delivery, service of any process accepting delivery shall be by

United States certified or express mail unless otherwise permitted

by these rules. The clerk shall deliver a copy of the process and

complaint or other document to be served to the United States Postal

Service for mailing at the address set f orth in the caption or at the

address set forth in written instructions furnished to the clerk as

certified or express mail return receipt requested, with instructions

to the delivering postal employee to show to whom delivered, date

of delivery, and address where delivered.

(b) Service by commercial carrier service

Unless the serving party furnishes written instructions to the clerk

that service be made pursuant to Civ.R. 4.1(A)(1)(a), the clerk may

make service of any process by a commercial carrier service

utilizing any form of delivery requiring a signed receipt. The clerk

shall deliver a copy of the process and complaint or other document

to be served to a commercial carrier service for delivery at the

address set forth in the caption or at the address set forth in written

instructions furnished to the clerk, with instructions to the carrier to

return a signed receipt showing to whom delivered, date of delivery,

and address where delivered.

(2) Docket entries; return

The clerk shall forthwith enter on the appearance docket the fact of delivery

to the United States Postal Service for mailing or the fact of delivery to a

specified commercial carrier service for delivery, and make a similar entry

when the return receipt is received. If the return shows failure of delivery,

the clerk shall forthwith notify the attorney of record or, if there is no

attorney of record, the party at whose instance process was issued and enter

the fact and method of notification on the appearance docket. The clerk

shall file the return receipt or returned envelope in the records of the action.

(3) Costs

All postage and commercial carrier service fees shall be charged to costs.

If the parties to be served are numerous and the clerk determines there is

insufficient security for costs, the clerk may require the party requesting

service to advance an amount estimated by the clerk to be sufficient to pay

the costs of delivery.

(B) Personal service

When the plaintiff files a written request with the clerk for personal service, service of

process shall be made by that method.

(1) Civil process server; general

When process issued from the Supreme Court, a court of appeals, a court of

common pleas, or a county court is to be served personally under this

division, the clerk of the court shall deliver the process and sufficient copies

of the process and complaint, or other document to be served, to the sheriff

of the county in which the party to be served resides or may be found. When

process issues from the municipal court, delivery shall be to the bailiff of

the court for service on all defendants who reside or m ay be found within

the county or counties in which that court has territorial jurisdiction and to

the sheriff of any other county in this state for service upon a defendant who

resides in or may be found in that other county. In the alternative, process

issuing from any of these courts may be delivered by the clerk to a person

designated by court order to serve civil process under division (E) of this

rule.

(2) Civil process server; procedure

(a) The person serving process shall locate the person to be served and

shall tender a copy of the process and accompanying documents to

the person to be served. When the copy of the process has been

served, the person serving process shall endorse that fact on the

process and return it to the clerk, who shall make the appropriate

entry on the appearance docket.

(b) When the person serving process is unable to serve a copy of the

process within twenty-eight days, the person shall endorse that fact

and the reasons therefor on the process and return the process and

copies to the clerk who shall make the appropriate entr y on the

appearance docket. In the event of failure of service, the clerk shall

follow the notification procedure set forth in division (A)(2) of this

rule. Failure to make service within the twenty-eight-day period and

failure to make proof of service do not affect the validity of the

service.

(C) Residence service

When the plaintiff files a written request with the clerk for residence service, service of

process shall be made by that method.

(1) Civil process server; general

When process is to be served under this division, deliver the process and

sufficient copies of the process and complaint, or other document to be

served, to the sheriff of the county in which the party to be served resides

or may be found. When process issues from the municipal court, delivery

shall be to the bailiff of the court for service on all defendants who reside

or may be found within the county or counties in which that court has

territorial jurisdiction and to the sheriff of any other county in this state for

service upon a defendant who resides in or may be found in that county. In

the alternative, process may be delivered by the clerk to a person designated

by court order to serve civil process under division (E) of this rule.

(2) Civil process server; procedure

(a) The person serving process shall effect service by leaving a copy of

the process and the complaint, or other document to be served, at the

usual place of residence of the person to be served with some person

of suitable age and discretion then residing therein. When the copy

of the process has been served, the person serving process shall

endorse that fact on the process and return it to the clerk, who shall

make the appropriate entry on the appearance docket.

(b) When the person serving process is unable to serve a copy of the

process within twenty-eight days, the person shall endorse that fact

and the reasons therefor on the process, and return the process and

copies to the clerk, who shall make the appropriate entry on the

appearance docket. In the event of failure of service, the clerk shall

follow the notification procedure set forth in division (A)(2) of this

rule. Failure to make service within the twenty-eight-day period and

failure to make proof of service do not affect the validity of service.

(D) Civil process server; applicant requirements

To qualify as a civil process server for personal or residence service under divisions (B) or

(C) of this rule, an applicant shall certify the applicant satisfies each of the following

requirements:

(1) Not less than eighteen years of age;

(2) Not a party to the proceeding, related to a party to the proceeding, or having

a financial interest in the outcome of the proceeding;

(3) A United States citizen or a legal resident of the United States;

(4) Hold a valid government-issued identification card, passport, or driver’s

license;

(5) Not convicted in the last ten years of any felony, offense of violence, or

offense involving dishonesty or false statement, and not currently under

community control sanctions, probation, post-release control, or parole;

(6) Not currently a respondent under any civil protection order;

(7) Familiar with the required procedure for service of process;

(8) Will conduct themself in a professional manner.

(E) Order for process server

Upon application and certification by an applicant under oath or affirmation that the

applicant satisfies the requirements of division (D) of this rule, the court may designate

that person by court order to make personal or residence service of process under divisions

(B) or (C) of this rule for a period up to one year. The order shall provide that if the

appointed person fails to satisfy the requirements set forth under division (D) of this rule

during the period of appointment, the authority to serve process under the order shall cease.

Continued appointment beyond one year shall require reapplication as set forth in this rule.