Rule 6:2-3 - Service of Process(a)By Whom Served. Personal service of process within this State may be made by Special Civil Part Officers and such other persons authorized by law to serve such process as the Assignment Judge designates. Persons so designated shall receive in payment for their services the fees allowed therefor by statute. Service of all process outside this State may be made in accordance with R. 4:4-4 and R. 4:4-5. After the filing of a complaint and receipt of a docket number, service may be made by mail pursuant to either R. 4:4-4(c) by plaintiff or, pursuant to R. 6:2-3(d), by the clerk, without the payment of mileage fees.(b)Manner of Service. Service of process within this State shall be made in accordance with R. 6:2-3(d) or as otherwise provided by court order consistent with due process of law, or in accordance with R. 4:4-5. Substituted service within this State shall be made pursuant to R. 6:2-3(d). Substituted or constructive service outside this State may be made pursuant to the applicable provisions in R. 4:4-4 or R. 4:4-5. In summary actions for the recovery of premises, service of process shall be by ordinary mail and by delivery personally pursuant to R. 4:4-4. When the person serving process is unable to effectuate service by delivering process personally, service may be effectuated by affixing a copy of the summons and complaint on the door of the unit occupied by the defendant or, if that is not possible, on another conspicuous part of the subject premises. When the plaintiff-landlord has reason to believe that service may not be made at the subject premises, the landlord shall also request service at an address, by certified and regular mail addressed to the tenant, where the landlord believes that service will be effectuated. The landlord shall furnish to the clerk two additional copies of the summons and complaint for each defendant for this purpose.
(c)Notice of Service. Except in landlord and tenant actions for recovery of the premises and actions in the Small Claims Section, upon the return of service of original process, the clerk shall inform the plaintiff or attorney of the date of service.(d)Service by Mail Program. If the process is to be served in this State, or if substituted service of process is to be made within this state: (1)Initial Service.The clerk of the court shall simultaneously mail such process by both certified and ordinary mail. A plaintiff or attorney shall submit to the clerk the mailing addresses of parties to be served and the appropriate number of copies of the summons and complaint. The clerk shall furnish postage, envelopes, and return receiptsand shall address same. Mail service on each defendant shall be placed in separate envelopes by the clerk regardless of marital status or address. Process shall be mailed within 12 days of the filing of the complaint. The clerk thereafter shall send a postcard toplaintiff or the attorney showing the docket number, date of mailing and a statementthat, unless the plaintiff is otherwise notified, default will be entered on the date shown. If service cannot be effected by mail, the clerk shall send a second card to the plaintiff or attorney stating the reasons for incomplete service and requesting instructions forreservice.(2)Reservice.Where initial service by mail is not effected, plaintiff or the attorney may request reservice by mail or by court officer personally pursuant to R. 4:4 - 4. If reservice by mail at the same address is requested the plaintiff or attorney shall be required toprovide a postal verification, affidavit containing a statement that sets forth the sourceof the address used for service of the summons and complaint, or other proof satisfactory to the court that the party to be served receives mail at that address.(3)Fees.The fees for service by mail shall be as provided by N.J.S.A. 22A:2 37.1.(4)Effective Service.Consistent with due process of law, service by mail pursuant to thisrule shall have the same effect as personal service, and the simultaneous mailing shall constitute effective service unless the mail is returned to the court by the postal service with a marking indicating it has not been delivered such as "Moved, Left No Address," "Attempted-Addressee Not Known," "No Such Number/Street," "Insufficient Address,""Not Deliverable as Addressed-Unable to Forward," or the court has other reason to believe that service was not effected. However, if the certified mail is returned to the court marked "unclaimed" or "refused," service is effective provided that the ordinary mail has not been returned. Process served by mail may be addressed to a post officebox. Service shall be effective when forwarded by the postal service to an addressoutside the county in which the action is instituted. Where process is addressed to the defendant at a place of business or employment, with postal instructions to deliver to addressee only, service will be deemed effective only if the signature on the return receipt appears to be that of the defendant to whom process was mailed.(5)Vacation of Defaults.If process is returned to the court by the postal servicesubsequent to entry of default and displays any of the notations listed in the precedingparagraph, or other reasons exists to believe that service was not effected, the clerk shall vacate the default or default judgment and shall immediately notify the plaintiff or attorney of the action taken.(e)General Appearance; Acknowledgement of Service. A general appearance or an acceptance of the service of a summons, signed by the defendant's attorney or signed and acknowledged by the defendant (other than a minor or mentally incapacitated person), shall have the same effect as if the defendant had been personally served.Source R.R. 7:4-6(a)(b) (first three sentences), 7:4-7. Paragraph (a) amended July 7, 1971 effective 9/13/1971; paragraph (a) amended July 14, 1972 to be effective 9/5/1972; paragraph (b) amended November 27, 1974 to be effective 4/1/1975; paragraphs (a)(b) amended July 17, 1975 to be effective 9/8/1975; paragraph (a) amended July 16, 1979 to be effective 9/10/1979; paragraph (a) amended July 21, 1980 to be effective 9/8/1980; paragraph (b) amended July 16, 1981 to be effective 9/14/1981; paragraphs (a) and (b) amended and paragraph (d) adopted November 5, 1986 to be effective 1/1/1987; paragraph (c) amended November 7, 1988 to be effective 1/2/1989; paragraphs (b) and (d) amended June 29, 1990 to be effective 9/4/1990; paragraph (d) amended July 17, 1991 to be effective immediately; paragraph (e) adopted July 14, 1992 to be effective 9/1/1992; paragraphs (a) and (e) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective 9/1/1994; paragraph (d)(4) amended July 5, 2000 to be effective 9/5/2000; paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (d)(2), and (e) amended July 12, 2002 to be effective 9/3/2002; paragraphs (b), d(4) and (5) amended July 28, 2004 to be effective 9/1/2004; paragraph (b) amended July 23, 2010 to be effective 9/1/2010; subparagraph (d)(2) amended July 19, 2012 to be effective 9/4/2012; paragraph (d)(1) amended August 1, 2016 to be effective 9/1/2016.