Group II: Commencing an Action; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions, and Orders · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 5-I requires proof that a served paper reached the other parties before the court takes any other action on it, unless the paper was filed through the court's electronic-filing system, in which case no proof of service is required at all.
(a)IN GENERAL. Except as provided in Rule 5-I(b) or as otherwise provided by statute, proof of service for filings served under Rule 5 must be filed before any other action is taken on that filing. The proof must show the date and manner of service on the parties and delivery to the judge, and may be made by:
(1)written acknowledgment;
(2)affidavit of the person making service or delivery;
(3)certificate of a member of the Bar of this court; or
(4)other proof satisfactory to the court.
(b)ELECTRONICALLY-FILED PAPER. No proof of service is required when a paper is served using the court’s electronic-filing system.
(c)FAILURE TO MAKE PROOF; AMENDING PROOF. Failure to make proof will not affect the validity of service. The court may at any time allow the proof to be amended or supplied, unless to do so would result in material prejudice to a party.
Comments
2019 Amendments:
Consistent with the 2018 amendments to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5, this rule was amended to eliminate the proof of service requirement where a paper was served with the court’s electronic-filing system.
2017 Amendments:
Stylistic changes were made to this rule to conform with the 2007 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plain-English Summary
Serving a paper is only half the job under DC's rules — Rule 5-I generally requires proving that it happened before the court will act on the filing further. The proof must show the date and manner of service on the parties, and delivery to the judge, and it can take several forms: a written acknowledgment from the person served, an affidavit from the person who made service or delivery, a certificate from a member of the court's Bar, or other proof the court finds satisfactory.
That requirement drops away for papers served through the court's electronic-filing system. Because the system itself records when and how a document was transmitted, Rule 5-I(b) dispenses with any separate proof-of-service filing in that situation.
Even outside the electronic-filing exception, a missing or defective proof of service does not doom the underlying service itself — Rule 5-I(c) makes clear that failure to make proof does not affect the validity of service, and the court may allow the proof to be amended or supplied at any time, unless doing so would materially prejudice a party.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to prove I served the other parties before the court will act on my filing?
Generally yes, unless the paper was filed through the court's electronic-filing system, in which case Rule 5-I(b) eliminates the separate proof-of-service requirement.
What forms of proof of service does Rule 5-I accept?
A written acknowledgment from the person served, an affidavit from whoever made service or delivery, a certificate from a member of the Bar of the court, or other proof the court finds satisfactory.
What information does the proof of service need to include?
It must show the date and manner of service on the parties, and it must also show delivery to the judge.
What happens if I forget to file proof that I served a document?
Rule 5-I(c) states that failure to make proof does not affect the validity of the underlying service, and the court may allow the proof to be amended or supplied later.
Is there a limit on fixing a missing or incomplete proof of service?
Yes. The court may allow the proof to be amended or supplied at any time, except where doing so would result in material prejudice to a party.
Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are
reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:dc proof of service requirementcertificate of service rule dc superior courtefiling proof of service exception dcaffidavit of service dc civil ruleamend proof of service dc court