Rule 4.3.Service outside Nevada

Group II: Commencing an Action; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions, and Orders · Last amended March 1, 2019 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 4.3 governs service on defendants located outside Nevada, whether elsewhere in the United States or abroad, including service on foreign countries and their subdivisions.

Full Text of Rule 4.3

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(a) Service Outside Nevada but Within the United States.

(1) Serving Individuals. A party may serve process outside Nevada, but within the United States, in the same manner as provided in Rule 4.2(a) for serving such a defendant within Nevada, or as prescribed by the law of the place where the defendant is served.

(2) Serving Minors and Incapacitated Persons. A party may serve process outside Nevada, but within the United States, in the same manner as provided in Rule 4.2(b) for serving such a defendant within Nevada.

(3) Serving Entities and Associations. A party may serve process outside Nevada, but within the United States, in the same manner as provided in Rule 4.2(c)(1) for serving such a defendant within Nevada, or as prescribed by the law of the place where the defendant is served.

(4) Serving Another, State or Territory. Service upon another state or territory, its public entities and political subdivisions, and their officers and employees may be made in the manner prescribed by that state’s or territory’s law for serving a summons or like process on such a defendant.

(5) Serving the United States. Service upon the United States and its agencies, corporations, officers, or employees may be made as provided by Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(6) Authorized Persons. Service must be made by a person who is authorized to serve process under the law of the state or territory where service is made.

(b) Service Outside the United States.

(1) Serving an Individual. Unless otherwise provided by these rules, an individual—other than a minor, an incapacitated person, or a person whose waiver has been filed—may be served at a place outside of the United States:

(A) by any internationally agreed means of service that is reasonably calculated to give notice, such as those authorized by the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra judicial Documents;

(B) if there is no internationally agreed means, or if an international agreement allows but does not specify other means, by a method that is reasonably calculated to give notice:

(i) as prescribed by the foreign country’s law for service in that country in an action in its courts of general jurisdiction;

(ii) as the foreign authority directs in response to a letter rogatory or letter of request; or

(iii) unless prohibited by the foreign country’s law, by:

(a) delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the individual personally; or

(b) using any form of mail that the clerk addresses and sends to the individual and that requires a signed receipt; or

(2) Serving a Minor or Incapacitated Person. A minor or an incapacitated person who is outside the United States must be served in the manner prescribed by Rule 4.3(b)(1)(B)(i) or (ii), or 4.3(b)(1)(C).

(3) Serving Entities or Associations. An entity or association that is outside the United States may be served in any manner prescribed by Rule 4.3(b)(1) for serving an individual, except personal delivery under Rule 4.3(b)(1)(B)(iii)(a).

(4) Serving a Foreign Country or Political Subdivision. A foreign country or a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof must be served under 28 U.S.C. § 1608.

End

Notes

Advisory Committee Note — 2019 Amendment: Rule 4.3(a) governs service outside Nevada but within the United States and amends former NRCP 4(e)(2). Rule 4.3(b) governs service outside of the United States and is drawn from FRCP 4(f), (g), (h), and (j).

Amendment History

Amended eff. 3-1-19.

Plain-English Summary

For a defendant found elsewhere in the United States, Rule 4.3(a) gives a plaintiff two options: follow the same methods Rule 4.2 prescribes for service inside Nevada, or follow the service law of the place where the defendant is served. That flexibility extends to individuals, minors, incapacitated persons, and entities alike. Separate provisions cover service on another state or territory (and its officers and subdivisions), which follows that jurisdiction's own law, and service on the United States government, which follows the federal rule. Whoever carries out out-of-state service must be a person authorized to serve process under the law of the place where service happens.

Service outside the United States follows a different hierarchy. An international agreement's method comes first — the Hague Convention being the most common example. If no such agreement applies, or it allows other means without specifying them, a plaintiff can serve under the foreign country's own law, as directed by a letter rogatory or letter of request, or — unless the foreign country's law forbids it — by personal delivery or by mail requiring a signed receipt. A catch-all provision lets the court order any other method not prohibited by international agreement. Minors, incapacitated persons, and entities abroad are funneled into these same options, though personal delivery is not available for serving an entity. A foreign country or one of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities is served under the federal statute governing service on foreign sovereigns, 28 U.S.C. section 1608.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I serve a defendant who lives in another U.S. state?

Rule 4.3(a) allows service using the same methods Rule 4.2 provides for service within Nevada, or, alternatively, service made in the manner the law of the place where the defendant is served allows.

Can I just use Nevada's in-state service methods on an out-of-state defendant?

Yes — Rule 4.3(a) expressly permits following Rule 4.2's methods for a defendant served outside Nevada but within the United States. A plaintiff may instead use the service law of the state or place where the defendant is served.

How do I serve someone in a foreign country?

Start with any method an applicable international agreement, such as the Hague Convention, authorizes. If none applies or none specifies a method, service can proceed under the foreign country's own law, as a foreign authority directs in response to a letter rogatory, or — if the foreign country's law does not forbid it — by personal delivery or mail requiring a signed receipt.

What if the foreign country isn't part of the Hague Convention and gives no guidance?

A plaintiff can use a method reasonably calculated to give notice: the foreign country's own service procedures, a method the foreign authority specifies in response to a letter rogatory or letter of request, or, absent a prohibition under that country's law, personal delivery or signed-receipt mail. The court can also authorize another method not barred by international agreement.

How do I serve a foreign government or one of its agencies?

Through the procedure set out in the federal Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. section 1608, which Rule 4.3(b)(4) incorporates by reference for service on a foreign country or its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities.

Source & verification. Rule text, official Advisory Committee Notes, and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Nevada. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

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