FILED SENATE
Feb 9, 2023
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.B. 91
SESSION 2023 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE BILL DRS15035-LR-21
Short Title: Amend Rule 4/Acceptance of Service. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Galey, Sawrey, and B. Newton (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT AMENDING RULE 4 OF THE NORTH CAROLINA RULES OF CIVIL
3 PROCEDURE TO ALLOW ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE USING A FORM ISSUED BY
4 THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6 SECTION 1. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4(j5) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure
7 reads as rewritten:
8 "(j5) Personal jurisdiction by acceptance of service. – Any party personally, or through the
9 persons provided in Rule 4(j), may accept service of process either (i) by completing an
10 acceptance of service form provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts or (ii) by notation
11 of acceptance of service together with the signature of the party accepting service and the date
12 thereof on an original or copy of a summons, and such acceptance summons. Acceptance of
13 service by either method shall have the same force and effect as would exist had the process been
14 served by delivery of copy and summons and complaint to the person signing said the
15 acceptance."
16 SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2023, and applies to actions
17 commenced on or after that date.
*DRS15035-LR-21*


Statutes affected:
Edition 3: 20-141.3, 7A-272, 15A-952, 7A-271, 15A-1341
Edition 4: 20-141.3, 7A-272, 7A-271, 15A-1341
Edition 5: 20-141.3, 7A-272, 7A-271, 15A-1341, 130A-50, 18B-1000
Ratified: 20-141.3, 7A-272, 7A-271, 15A-1341, 130A-50, 18B-1000
SL 2023-97: 20-141.3, 7A-272, 7A-271, 15A-1341, 130A-50, 18B-1000