Service on any physician, when not a party to an action, may be made at his or her office through personal service on any clerical employee of such physician.
Art. 1236.Service On Clerical Employees of Physicians
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title II. Citation and Service of Process · Chapter 2. Service On Persons · Last amended 1997 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1236 allows a physician who isn't a party to a lawsuit to be served at their office through personal service on any clerical employee of that physician.
Full Text of Art. 1236
Amendment History
Added by Acts 1975, No. 778, §1. Amended by Acts 1997, No. 1056, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Physicians often get pulled into lawsuits without being defendants — most often to compel testimony or produce records. Article 1236 makes that easier by letting the physician be served at their office through personal service on any clerical employee there, rather than requiring the physician to be caught in person.
The rule applies only when the physician isn't a party to the action. A physician who is being sued as a defendant doesn't fall under this shortcut and instead has to be served the way any other individual defendant would be, under Articles 1232 through 1234.
The article doesn't limit which clerical employee can accept service — any employee handling office work for the physician qualifies, which spares the party seeking service from having to identify a specific office manager or particular staff member by name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a physician be served at their office through an employee?
Yes, when the physician isn't a party to the case. Article 1236 allows personal service on any clerical employee at the physician's office.
Does this rule apply to physicians who are defendants in a lawsuit?
No. It applies only when the physician isn't a party to the action; a physician who is a defendant must be served under the ordinary rules for individuals.
Does it matter which clerical employee accepts service?
No. Article 1236 doesn't single out a particular employee, such as an office manager; any clerical employee of the physician can accept service.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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