What does Federal call proof of service?
Server's affidavit
Document Guides
Federal Rule 4 proof of service
A state statute can supply a method of service that Rule 4 allows. It does not replace Rule 4(l). Waiver of service removes the proof requirement. Failure to prove service does not itself invalidate service.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
Quick Answer
What proof does Federal use, and does it explicitly require a notary?
Server's affidavit. A state statute can supply a method of service that Rule 4 allows. It does not replace Rule 4(l). Waiver of service removes the proof requirement. Failure to prove service does not itself invalidate service.
Do not assume a notary is required from the document title. Send the unsigned page if the signature block is unclear.
Proof at a glance
| Question | This jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Proof name | Server's affidavit |
| Private server | Affidavit; no notary named |
| Officer | Marshal or deputy marshal exception |
| Traditional notary explicit? | No |
| Perjury alternative? | No |
| Recipient acceptance of remote notarization | No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed. |
Current controlling rule
Federal proof is controlled, for this guide, by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(l). A state statute can supply a method of service that Rule 4 allows. It does not replace Rule 4(l). Waiver of service removes the proof requirement. Failure to prove service does not itself invalidate service.
The date stored for the current text is 2024-12-01. A later amendment is not described as current.
What this jurisdiction calls the proof
The opened materials call it: Server's affidavit. Classification used in the authority record: affidavit admin officer not specified.
Private process server
Any other server proves service by affidavit. The rule does not name a notary.
Sheriff, officer, or other listed server
A United States marshal or deputy marshal does not file the server's affidavit.
Is an oath or notary explicitly required?
The controlling proof sentence reviewed here does not name a notary or other oath officer.
No penalty-of-perjury alternative was identified for this proof path.
Fields the server has to complete
- Facts of service in the server's affidavit
Filing or service timing
Rule 4(m): 90 days, with exceptions for service outside the United States.
When a different kind of process uses different proof
out of state: Service outside any judicial district of the United States is proved under the applicable treaty, or by a signed receipt or other evidence satisfying the court. That proof is not a state return substituted for Rule 4(l).
Remote online notarization and court acceptance
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. When the commission is a Florida commission, Florida's remote online notarization statute governs the notarial act. The court or other recipient still decides whether to accept the return.
If the page is only a declaration, certificate, or signed return, do not add a notary certificate.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
What to send iRemoteNotary
- The unsigned proof, return, or affidavit
- The court, and that the case is connected to Federal
- The form number and revision if one is printed
- Whether the signature block is a jurat or a perjury declaration
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Process-serving companies and law firms
A coordinator can submit the request. The signer is the person named on the certificate. There is no organization account, dashboard, volume price, or court-filing service.
One signer and one notarization is $25 domestically. Each additional notarization is $15. An additional signer is $10. A witness is $15. An international session coordination fee of $25 applies when a signer is outside the United States. An international session commonly starts at $50 for one signer and one notarization.
Send the unsigned proof
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sheriff or officer use the same signature block?
A United States marshal or deputy marshal does not file the server's affidavit.
Is a penalty-of-perjury declaration an alternative?
No alternative of that kind was identified for this proof path.
Did the official materials expressly accept remote notarization of the proof?
No express recipient-acceptance source was identified in the official materials reviewed.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2024(opens in a new tab)
Federal
Accessed October 7, 2026
Send the unsigned page
Not sure whether your exact proof or return requires a notarial act? Send the unsigned document for review before scheduling.