§ RULE 5 SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
RULE 5. SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
(a) Service: When required.
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules or as otherwise directed by the court, every judgment, every order required by its terms to be served, every pleading subsequent to the original complaint, every paper relating to discovery, every written motion other than one heard ex parte, and every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, and similar paper shall be served upon each of the parties.
(a)(2) No service need be made on parties in default except that:
(a)(2)(A) a party in default shall be served as ordered by the court;
(a)(2)(B) a party in default for any reason other than for failure to appear shall be served with all pleadings and papers;
(a)(2)(C) a party in default for any reason shall be served with notice of any hearing necessary to determine the amount of damages to be entered against the defaulting party;
(a)(2)(D) a party in default for any reason shall be served with notice of entry of judgment under Rule 58A(d); and
(a)(2)(E) pleadings asserting new or additional claims for relief against a party in default for any reason shall be served in the manner provided for service of summons in Rule 4.
(a)(3) In an action begun by seizure of property, in which no person 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) Service: How made.
(b)(1) If a party is represented by an attorney, service shall be made upon the attorney unless service upon the party is ordered by the court. If an attorney has filed a Notice of Limited Appearance under Rule 75 and the papers being served relate to a matter within the scope of the Notice, service shall be made upon the attorney and the party.
(b)(1)(A) If a hearing is scheduled 5 days or less from the date of service, the party shall use the method most likely to give prompt actual notice of the hearing. Otherwise, a party shall serve a paper under this rule:
(b)(1)(A)(i) upon any person with an electronic filing account who is a party or attorney in the case by submitting the paper for electronic filing;
(b)(1)(A)(ii) by sending it by email to the person's last known email address if that person has agreed to accept sevice by email;
(b)(1)(A)(iii) by faxing it to the person's last known fax number if that person has agreed to accept service by fax;
(b)(1)(A)(iv) by mailing it to the person's last known address;
(b)(1)(A)(v) by handing it to the person;
(b)(1)(A)(vi) by leaving it at the person's office with a person in charge or leaving it in a receptacle intended for receiving deliveries or in a conspicuous place; or
(b)(1)(A)(vii) by leaving it at the person's dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein.
(b)(1)(B) Service by mail, email or fax is complete upon sending. Service by electronic means is not effective if the party making service learns that the attempted service did not reach the person to be served.
(b)(2) Unless otherwise directed by the court:
(b)(2)(A) an order signed by the court and required by its terms to be served or a judgment signed by the court shall be served by the party preparing it;
(b)(2)(B) every other pleading or paper required by this rule to be served shall be served by the party preparing it; and
(b)(2)(C) an order or judgment prepared by the court shall be served by the court.
(c) Service: Numerous defendants. In any action in which there is an unusually large number 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 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. All papers after the complaint required to be served upon a party shall be filed with the court either before or within a reasonable time after service. The papers shall be accompanied by a certificate of service showing the date and manner of service completed by the person effecting service. Rule 26(i) governs the filing of papers related to discovery.
(e) Filing with the court defined. A party may file with the clerk of court using any means of delivery permitted by the court. The court may require parties to file electronically with an electronic filing account. Filing is complete upon the earliest of acceptance by the electronic filing system, the clerk of court or the judge. The filing date shall be noted on the paper.