Rule 402.Manner of Service. Acceptance of Service.

Adopted July 5, 1985 · Last amended June 14, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 402 sets how original process is served by handing — a copy to the defendant, or at the defendant’s residence to an adult household member or person in charge or lodging clerk, or at the defendant’s office to an agent or person in charge — and lets the defendant accept service by filing a separate document.

Full Text of Rule 402

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Original process may be served

(1) by handing a copy to the defendant; or

(2) by handing a copy

(i) at the residence of the defendant to an adult member of the family with whom he resides; but if no adult member of the family is found, then to an adult person in charge of such residence; or

(ii) at the residence of the defendant to the clerk or manager of the hotel, inn, apartment house, boarding house or other place of lodging at which he resides; or

(iii) at any office or usual place of business of the defendant to his agent or to the person for the time being in charge thereof.

(b) In lieu of service under this rule, the defendant or his authorized agent may accept service of original process by filing a separate document which shall be substantially in the following form: (Caption) Acceptance of Service I accept service of the on behalf of and certify that I am authorized to do so).

(Date) (Defendant, or Authorized Agent) (Mailing Address)

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule lists the ways original process is served by handing over a copy. The most direct is handing a copy to the defendant.

It also allows substitute service at fixed locations: at the defendant’s residence to an adult member of the family, or if none is found to an adult person in charge, or to the clerk or manager of the hotel or lodging where the defendant resides; or at the defendant’s office or usual place of business to an agent or the person in charge.

Finally, the defendant or an authorized agent may accept service of original process by filing a separate acceptance document in the form the rule prescribes, avoiding the need for formal service.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a defendant served with original process?

By handing a copy to the defendant; or, as a substitute, at the residence to an adult family member or person in charge or a lodging clerk, or at the office or place of business to an agent or person in charge.

Can a defendant just accept service?

Yes. The defendant or an authorized agent may accept service of original process by filing a separate acceptance document in the prescribed form.

Official Note

Official Note: The plaintiff should insert in the first blank the name of the document being accepted, i.e., writ of summons or complaint. When accepting service in person, the defendant would delete the part of the sentence in parentheses.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 402 adopted July 5, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 2452; amended June 14, 1999, effective September 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3191. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256952) to (256953). (Editor’s Note: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has suspended its order of June 14, 1999, published at 29 Pa.B. 3191 (June 26, 1999). See 29 Pa.B. 4859 (September 18, 1999).)

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: manner of serviceacceptance of servicesubstitute servicehanding a copy