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E.D. Va. Local Civil Rule 4

Service and Return of Summons – Abatement

activein force · 2024-12-01 – presentact-effective-date

(A) Service and Abatement: If service of a summons and complaint is sought other than under Fed. R.

Civ. P. 4(d) but is not effected, the Marshal or other person responsible for effecting service shall return

the summons and complaint to the Clerk with an endorsement thereon stating the reasons for failure to

effect service.

All waivers of service obtained under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d) shall be filed within five (5) days after they are

returned to plaintiff. Unless, within ninety (90) days after the complaint is filed, a defendant has been

served, or has appeared or has waived service, the Clerk shall abate the action and dismiss it without

prejudice as to such defendant(s) after having given, but received no response to, the notice required by

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

Where the United States, its officers, corporations, or agencies are served by mail pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.

P. 4(i)(1)(A), service shall be effective on the date of the postmark or on the date received if there is no

postmark or it is illegible. The United States Attorney shall file a certificate reporting the postmark and

receipt dates.

(B) Withholding Service: Requests by a party to withhold the service of a summons and complaint, or a

third-party summons and complaint upon parties as to whom waiver of service provisions are inapplicable

shall not be granted by the Clerk without leave of Court first obtained; provided, however, that a party

may request the Clerk to withhold the issuance and service of an in rem process upon advising the Clerk

that the property subject to arrest or attachment is not within the jurisdiction or that arrangements have

been made for the acceptance of service.

(C) Civil Cover Sheet: The Clerk shall require a complete and executed AO Form JS 44(a), Civil Cover

Sheet, to accompany each civil action filed except as to actions filed by prisoners and other litigants

proceeding pro se.

Provenance

Source
www.vaed.uscourts.gov
Retrieved
2026-09-18
Edition
fed-district-2026-09-18
Content hash
6758872a3d2e130830bb1b5c9c9cc50700cf89c252a3f99599ce2e4f3a926c20
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