Rule 11 Service [Effective July 1, 2026]

(a) Personal Service.

(1) Nonelectronic Service. Whenever personal service is required by rule or statute, or a specific nonelectronic method is authorized for commencement of an action, the person making service must do so nonelectronically.

(2) Return of Electronic Service. Any required return of nonelectronic service must be filed electronically in accordance with Rule 3(a) unless otherwise provided in Rule 3(b) or by the applicable rules of procedure. A party’s waiver or acceptance of service of original process, given in accordance with the applicable rules of procedure, must be electronically filed if Rule 3(a) applies.

(b) Service in General. When Rule 11(a)(1) does not apply, the person making service must do so in accordance with this rule.

(c) Discovery. An efiler must serve discovery requests or responses, which are not required to be filed with the court, on an efiler using the electronic filing system unless the parties agree on an alternative method of service.

(d) Service of Electronic Filings Between eFilers.

(1) Service Through Efiling System. Service of electronic filings between efilers must be effected using the electronic filing system by choosing File and Serve and selecting the party from the Public List at the time of filing, unless there is an agreement under paragraph (2).

(2) Exception to Service Through Efiling System by Agreement. Electronic filers may agree on an alternative method of service for a particular document or case if:

(A) the agreement is in writing, is signed by the parties to the agreement, and is clearly labeled as an agreement for an alternative method of service;

(B) the agreement provides the email addresses for service of each party to the agreement where service is by email;

(C) the agreement has been filed and served in the electronic filing system using the service contact of each of the parties to the agreement; and

(D) each filing served pursuant to the agreement is accompanied by a certificate of service that complies with paragraph (g)(2) of this rule.

(e) Service of Nonelectronic Filings or Service on Nonefiler. Service of a nonelectronically filed document or on a party who is either not an efiler in the case or has failed to provide service contacts must be made by the means specified in the applicable rules of procedure.

(f) Notice of Court Orders and Documents. The court will transmit any notice, order, or other document issued by the court to electronic filers and parties who are not electronic filers by mail or electronic means.

(g) Certifying Compliance with Service Requirements.

(1) Certifying Service Using Submission Agreement. All efilers must certify compliance with service requirements by completing the submission agreement described in paragraph (g)(3) and contained within the efiling screens. Failure to certify compliance accordingly will prevent completion of the efiling process.

(2) When Additional Filing of a Certificate of Service Is Required. An efiler must file a certificate of service complying with V.R.C.P. 5(h) or V.R.P.P. 5(e), as applicable, describing and certifying service on any of the following persons:

(A) a party who is not required and has not elected to efile in the case;

(B) a party who has failed to provide a service contact; or

(C) a party with whom the efiler has an agreement for an alternative method of service under paragraph (d)(2).

(3) Content of Submission Agreement for Service. Completion of the submission agreement is subject to the obligations of V.R.C.P. 11. The submission agreement must provide that for any filing that must be served, the efiler has either:

(A) completed service by using “File and Serve” and choosing the service contact from the Public List; or

(B) filed a certificate of service complying with paragraph (2) of this subdivision.