Missouri Process Server Service of Process in All 114 Counties and St. Louis City, Under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 54

Rule 54.13(a) lets the sheriff or “a person over the age of 18 years who is not a party to the action” serve within Missouri, “except as otherwise provided by law.” RSMo 506.140 is that law: process goes to the sheriff or a deputy, to the coroner when the sheriff is disqualified, or to someone other than a sheriff or coroner who is “specially appointed by the court or the circuit clerk following procedures established by local court rules,” and the appointment is valid only for the process it names. Rule 54.01(b) has the clerk deliver the summons to the sheriff or the person specially appointed to serve it. Served 123 LLC tells you at intake how the circuit where your case is pending makes the appointment, and gives you the steps to have our server appointed for your summons.

Rule 54.21 sets a duty, counted from the date of issue: the person receiving the summons “shall serve the same and make return of service promptly.” Process that cannot be served goes back to the court within 30 days after issue with the reason, and the court may by order extend the time for service up to 90 days from issue. Rule 54.01(c) makes the person the clerk delivers it to responsible for promptly serving it with a copy of the petition. Insufficiency of service of process is a defense under Rule 55.27(g); it is waived if left out of a Rule 55.27 motion in the circumstances Rule 55.27(f) describes, or neither made by motion nor included in a responsive pleading. A defendant may move under Rule 67.03 for involuntary dismissal for failure to prosecute or to comply with the Rules or a court order; such a dismissal is without prejudice unless the order says otherwise. If a limitation period is close, ask counsel.

The summons and petition may be left “at the individual’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person at least 18 years of age residing therein.” The rule asks two things of that person: age 18 or older, and living at that home. The same paragraph reaches a minor or incompetent person who has no legally appointed guardian. If a conservator has been appointed for a minor or a disabled or incapacitated person, Rule 54.13(b)(2) has the papers delivered to the conservator instead, and under Rule 52.02(e) a case against a served minor defendant goes no further until a guardian or guardian ad litem is appointed.

Rule 54.13(b)(3) already allows delivery to an officer, partner, or managing or general agent, or to the person in charge of any business office. For an LLC, RSMo 347.033 allows an authorized person in place of the registered agent, then an organizer if neither can be located with due diligence, and then the Secretary of State, who forwards a copy by registered mail to an organizer’s address in the articles. For a corporation with no registered agent kept in Missouri, RSMo 351.380 makes the Secretary of State the agent, and the Secretary forwards a copy by registered mail to the registered office. A foreign corporation (RSMo 351.594) or a nonprofit corporation (RSMo 355.176) with no servable agent may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to its secretary at the principal office on file.

For the defendants in Rule 54.13(b)(1), (2) and (3), resident or not, Rule 54.16 allows mailing the summons and petition first class, postage prepaid, with two copies of a notice and acknowledgment conforming substantially to Civil Procedure Form 4B or 4C and a postage prepaid return envelope. The signed acknowledgment is the proof of service (Rule 54.20(a)(3)). If it is not completed and returned, service has to be made another way a statute or rule provides, and unless good cause is shown the court shall order the costs of that service paid by a person who does not return it within 30 days after mailing. In an action affecting property, a fund or a status, Rule 54.12(b) adds a second route: the party files an affidavit stating why personal service cannot be had in Missouri and the name and address, and the clerk mails the summons and pleading by registered or certified mail, return receipt signed by addressee only.

Rule 54.12 covers civil actions affecting a fund, will, trust, estate, specific property or an interest in it, or a res or status within the court’s jurisdiction. Publication is by order of the court or clerk, issued when the party files a verified statement that a person to be served is unborn or unknown, or giving facts that show with particularity a reasonable effort to serve under Rule 54.12(b), 54.13, 54.14 or 54.16, along with the last known address or a statement that it is unknown. The notice runs at least once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the action was commenced, chosen by the party requesting publication (or one the court designates if there is none), and it states that default judgment will be entered unless the defendant answers or appears within 45 days after first publication, or a longer time the court sets. Where an address is given, the clerk mails the order and petition within ten days and files a certificate of the mailing. An affidavit of the dates and the newspaper proves it (Rule 54.20(e)).

Under Rule 54.20(a)(2), a person other than an officer who serves within Missouri “shall make affidavit as to the time, place and manner of service.” An officer instead signs a written return covering the same three points. When the person to be served, or an agent authorized to accept for them, refuses the copies, the server’s offer and the refusal, shown on the return, are proof of service (Rule 54.20(f)). Rule 54.22 makes the return prima facie evidence of the facts it recites, lets the court allow a return or proof to be filed or amended at any time unless material prejudice clearly would result, and lets the party served or the person who served show the true facts and impeach a return that does not match them.

Rule 54.06(a) reaches anyone who, in person or through an agent, transacts business, makes a contract, commits a tortious act, or owns, uses or possesses real estate in Missouri, or insures a risk located here, among the acts it lists; only claims arising from those acts may be asserted on that basis. Rule 54.07 reaches a person domiciled in or a resident of Missouri when the claim accrued, when the action was commenced, or when served. Under Rule 54.14 the server is a person authorized to serve civil process where service is made, or that person’s deputy, or a person appointed by the Missouri court where the case is pending, and the persons served are those Rule 54.13(b) names. An officer’s affidavit there is made before a clerk, judge or other person authorized to administer oaths and also states the officer’s official character and authority; an appointee files an affidavit of the time, place and manner. Rule 54.16 mail acknowledgment works outside Missouri too, and Rule 54.19 keeps personal service on a nonresident who is found in Missouri.

No. House Bill 1711 of 2026, which establishes the “Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act,” shows a last action of 05/14/2026: Action Postponed (H). The Missouri route is Rule 57.08: whenever a person’s deposition is to be taken in Missouri under the laws of another state, of the United States or of another country for use in proceedings there, the circuit court in the county where the deponent is found may, upon ex parte application, order a subpoena issued as provided in Rule 57.09, in aid of the deposition, and, having due regard for the laws and rules of that jurisdiction, may make the orders it could make for a deposition meant for use in Missouri.

Rule 57.09(d) lets the sheriff or a sheriff’s deputy, or any other person who is not a party and is not less than 18 years of age, serve it. Service is delivery of a copy to the person named plus a tender of the fees and mileage the witness would receive for attending court under subpoena; RSMo 491.280 is the statute that allows witnesses fees. A Rule 57.09 subpoena is issued by the deposition officer or by the clerk of the court where the action is pending, and a subpoena to a non-party for documents and things is served at least 10 days before the time to comply (Rule 57.09(a), (c)). Under RSMo 491.110 and 491.120, a subpoena may also be served by the sheriff, coroner, marshal or any constable of the county where the witness lives or is found, or by any disinterested person who would be a competent witness; a private server’s return is verified by affidavit, and in a civil case it states whether a witness living over 40 miles from the place of trial had fees tendered or paid. Disobeying a served subpoena without adequate excuse can be punished as contempt (Rule 57.09(f)).