Indiana Rules of Civil Procedure

Indiana's rules for serving a summons and complaint are in the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, mainly Trial Rules 4 to 4.17. Indiana doesn't license process servers.

Several of these rules changed on January 1, 2026, including the follow-up mailing after abode service, service on organizations and court-ordered service by email or social media. This page covers the rules as they stand now.

Disclaimer: Laws change, and this page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Check the current rules on the Indiana Rules of Court website or ask an attorney before relying on it.

Indiana process servers

• Become a process server in Indiana
• Hire a process server in Indiana

Quick facts: process serving in Indiana

• Who can serve: The sheriff or a deputy, or a person specially or regularly appointed by the court (Trial Rule 4.12(A)). Outside Indiana, any disinterested person or the party's attorney (T.R. 4.12(D)).
• Licensing: Indiana has no license or registration for process servers.
• Deadline to serve: The rules set no fixed number of days, but the server must act promptly (T.R. 4.12(A)), and a case with no action for 60 days can be dismissed after a hearing (T.R. 41(E)).
• Substituted service: Leave the papers at the person's home, then mail a copy of the summons and complaint by first-class mail (T.R. 4.1).
• Proof of service: A signed return attached to the summons, delivered to the clerk (T.R. 4.15(A)).
• Time to respond: 20 days after service, plus 3 days if served by mail (T.R. 6).

Process-serving software: ServeManager

ServeManager is process-serving software used by agencies across Indiana. It tracks every attempt with date, time, GPS and photos, and generates returns of service from the job.

Register for ServeManager

Do you need a license to serve process in Indiana?

No. Indiana has no statewide license, registration or certification for process servers.

Under Trial Rule 4.12(A), a summons for personal or abode service goes to the sheriff, a deputy, or a person specially or regularly appointed by the court. The party or attorney can name the method of service on the summons. If they don't, the clerk serves by mail when there's an address, and sends it to the sheriff if mail fails (T.R. 4(D)).

Service by someone who isn't appointed is still effective. But that person has to prove the service by testifying as a witness or by deposition, and their costs can't be charged to the other side (T.R. 4.12(A)). Ask the court or the attorney how private servers are appointed in your county.

For a step-by-step guide, see Become a Process Server in Indiana.

How to serve a summons in Indiana

The summons and complaint are served together unless the court orders otherwise (T.R. 4(E)).

Certified or registered mail: T.R. 4.1(A)(1) and 4.11

The summons and complaint are sent by registered or certified mail, or another method with a written receipt, to the person's home, business or workplace. The returned receipt must show delivery. This is usually done by the clerk (T.R. 4.11).

Personal service: T.R. 4.1(A)(2)

The server hands the summons and complaint directly to the person.

Abode service: T.R. 4.1(A)(3) and (B)

The server leaves copies at the person's dwelling house or usual place of abode. Then the server must send a copy of the summons and complaint by first-class mail to the address on the summons, and say so on the return. Before January 1, 2026, only the summons had to be mailed.

If a mailed copy comes back for any reason before judgment, or within 30 days after, the party relying on service must file a notice with the court (T.R. 4.1(C)).

Service on an agent: T.R. 4.1(A)(4)

The papers can be served on an agent named by rule, statute or valid agreement, followed by the same first-class mailing.

Refusal: T.R. 4.16

Offering the papers and telling the person they're being served is enough. A person who refuses to take the papers can't later challenge the service (T.R. 4.16(A)).

Service under special order of court: T.R. 4.14

If earlier attempts under the rules have failed, a party can file a verified motion asking the court to order another method reasonably likely to give the defendant actual notice. Since January 1, 2026, the rule says this can include social media, email or other technology (T.R. 4.14).

Service by publication: T.R. 4.13

Publication needs affidavits showing a diligent search and that the defendant can't be found, is hiding, or has left the state. The summons runs three times in a qualified newspaper, each 7 to 14 days after the last. The defendant has 30 days after the last notice to respond (T.R. 4.13). See What is service by publication?

Service outside Indiana: T.R. 4.4 and 4.12(D)

A nonresident subject to Indiana's long-arm rule can be served by the usual methods, or through the Secretary of State as their agent (T.R. 4.4(B)). Personal service outside the state can be made by any disinterested person or by the attorney for the party seeking service (T.R. 4.12(D)).

Serving businesses and other entities

Under T.R. 4.6, as amended January 1, 2026:

• Corporations, LLCs and other organizations: Serve an executive officer or the registered or legally deemed agent. Registered agents are listed in the Indiana Secretary of State business search. A registered agent who has consented to electronic service can be served electronically.
• Partnerships: Serve a general partner.
• State government organizations: Serve the executive officer and also the Attorney General.
• Local government organizations: Serve the executive and also the organization's attorney.
• Where to serve: Don't knowingly serve an officer at home unless that address is on file under a statute or agreement, or an affidavit says other service is impractical. If service on the right person fails, the papers can be left with the person in charge of any Indiana office of the organization.

Serving a subpoena in Indiana

A subpoena can be served by the sheriff or a deputy, a party, or any other person, by delivering a copy to the person. It can also be served by the methods in T.R. 4.1 (T.R. 45(C)). If the witness must attend outside their county of residence, the server tenders one day's attendance fee and the mileage allowed by law (T.R. 45(G)). Service by anyone other than the sheriff is proved by affidavit (T.R. 45(H)).

Proof of service: T.R. 4.15

The server promptly makes a return on or attached to a copy of the summons and delivers it to the clerk. The return must be signed and state:

• That service was made as required by law, with the time, place and manner
• If service wasn't made, exactly how it was blocked
• Any other information the rules require, such as the follow-up mailing after abode service

A summons or service isn't set aside for a defect if it was reasonably likely to tell the person about the case, the court and the time to respond (T.R. 4.15(F)).

Hire an Indiana process server

Find process servers across the state in the Indiana process server directory.

More Indiana resources

• Become a Process Server in Indiana
• Courts in Indiana
• Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, Trial Rule 4 (Indiana Rules of Court)
• Rule amendment orders (Indiana Judicial Branch)

This page is a general overview of Indiana law, not legal advice. Laws change. Check the current rules or talk to an attorney about your case.