Service of citation or other process on any political subdivision, public corporation, or state, parochial or municipal board or commission is made at its office by personal service upon the chief executive officer thereof, or in his absence upon any employee thereof of suitable age and discretion. A public officer, sued as such, may be served at his office either personally, or in his absence, by service upon any of his employees of suitable age and discretion. If the political entity or public officer has no established office, then service may be made at any place where the chief executive officer of the political entity or the public officer to be served may be found.
Art. 1265.Political Entity; Public Officer
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title II. Citation and Service of Process · Chapter 3. Service On Legal and Quasi Legal Persons · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1265 requires service on a political subdivision, public corporation, or state, parochial, or municipal board or commission at its office through personal service on the chief executive officer or, absent that officer, on any employee of suitable age and discretion, and applies the same approach to a public officer sued in that capacity.
Full Text of Art. 1265
Plain-English Summary
Suing a government body or a public official calls for its own service rule, since these aren't private entities with registered agents or partners. Article 1265 directs service to the entity's office and, within that office, to its chief executive officer — the mayor of a municipality, for example, or the head of a parish or state board. If that officer isn't present, service can be made on any employee at the office of suitable age and discretion.
A public officer sued in an official capacity gets the same treatment as an individual defendant would for purposes of location: service at the officer's own office, personally if possible, or on an employee there if the officer isn't present.
Article 1265 also covers the case where the political entity or officer has no fixed office at all. There, service can be made wherever the chief executive officer of the political entity or the public officer can be found, rather than requiring an address that may not exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a city or parish government served with a lawsuit in Louisiana?
At its office, through personal service on its chief executive officer, or on any employee of suitable age and discretion if that officer isn't present.
How is a public officer served when sued in their official capacity?
At the officer's office, personally if possible, or through an employee there of suitable age and discretion if the officer is absent.
What if the political entity or officer doesn't have an established office?
Article 1265 allows service at any place where the chief executive officer or the public officer can be found.
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
Also known as: serving a government agency in Louisianasuing a public official louisiana servicechief executive officer service of processLouisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1265service on parish or municipal board