A. Except as otherwise provided by law, every pleading subsequent to the original petition, and every pleading which under an express provision of law may be served as provided in this Article, may be served either by the sheriff or by:
Art. 1313.Service By Mail, Delivery, Or Electronic Means
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title II. Citation and Service of Process · Chapter 5. Service of Pleadings · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1313 lists the ways a party can serve a pleading filed after the original petition, mail, hand delivery, delivery to the clerk when the adverse party can't be reached, or electronic transmission, and tightens those options whenever the pleading sets a court date.
Full Text of Art. 1313
(1) Mailing a copy thereof to the counsel of record, or if there is no counsel of record, to the adverse party at his last known address, this service being complete upon mailing.
(2) Delivering a copy thereof to the counsel of record, or if there is no counsel of record, to the adverse party.
(3) Delivering a copy thereof to the clerk of court, if there is no counsel of record and the address of the adverse party is not known.
(4) Transmitting a copy by electronic means to counsel of record, or if there is no counsel of record, to the adverse party, at the number or addresses expressly designated in a pleading or other writing for receipt of electronic service. Service by electronic means is complete upon transmission but is not effective and shall not be certified if the serving party learns that the transmission did not reach the party to be served. If electronic service cannot be effected in accordance with this Subparagraph, service may be effected in accordance with other provisions of this Paragraph.
B. When service is made by mail, delivery, or electronic means, the party or counsel making the service shall file in the record a certificate of the manner in which service was made.
C. Notwithstanding Paragraph A of this Article, if a pleading or order sets a court date, then service shall be made by registered or certified mail or as provided in Article 1314, by actual delivery by a commercial courier, or by emailing the document to the email address designated by counsel or the party. Service by electronic means is complete upon transmission, provided that the sender receives an electronic confirmation of delivery.
D. For purposes of this Article, a "commercial courier" is any foreign or domestic business entity having as its primary purpose the delivery of letters and parcels of any type, and that:
(1) Acquires a signed receipt from the addressee, or the addressee's agent, of the letter or parcel upon completion of delivery.
(2) Has no direct or indirect interest in the outcome of the matter to which the letter or parcel concerns.
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 2025, No. 250, §3, eff. 8/1/2025. Amended by Acts 2021, No. 68, §1, eff. 1/1/2022. Amended by Acts 1997, No. 249, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1263, §1, eff. 1/1/2000; Acts 2010, No. 185, §1; Acts 2012, No. 741, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Article 1313 gives parties a menu of practical alternatives to sheriff service for pleadings filed after the petition. Under Paragraph A, a party can mail a copy to counsel of record, or to the adverse party directly if there's no counsel of record, with service complete the moment the letter goes in the mail. A party can instead deliver a copy by hand to counsel or the adverse party, or, if there's no counsel of record and the adverse party's address isn't known, deliver it to the clerk of court. And a party can transmit a copy electronically to whatever number or address counsel or the adverse party has designated for that purpose, with service complete on transmission unless the sender learns it never arrived, in which case the party has to fall back on one of the other methods.
Whichever of these methods a party uses, Paragraph B requires filing a certificate in the record describing how service was made, so the court file itself shows what happened.
Paragraph C raises the bar when more is at stake: if the pleading or an accompanying order sets a court date, ordinary mail or plain electronic transmission isn't enough. Service instead has to go by registered or certified mail, by physical delivery through a commercial courier as Article 1314 allows, or by email to a designated address, and the electronic route is only complete once the sender gets confirmation the message arrived. Paragraph D defines that commercial courier option precisely: a business whose primary purpose is delivering letters and parcels, which gets a signed receipt on delivery and has no stake in how the case turns out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ways to serve a pleading under Article 1313?
Mailing a copy to counsel of record or the adverse party, hand-delivering a copy, delivering a copy to the clerk of court when there's no known address, or transmitting a copy electronically to a designated number or address.
When is service by mail complete under this article?
The moment the copy is mailed, not when it arrives. Electronic service is likewise complete on transmission, unless the sender learns the transmission never reached the intended recipient.
Why does a pleading that sets a court date require a more demanding method of service?
Because missing that pleading could mean missing a hearing. Paragraph C requires registered or certified mail, delivery by a qualifying commercial courier, or email with confirmed delivery, so the party who filed it can show the other side got notice in time.
What counts as a commercial courier under Article 1313?
A business whose primary purpose is delivering letters and parcels, that obtains a signed receipt from the recipient upon delivery, and that has no direct or indirect interest in how the case comes out.
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: louisiana service by mail civil procedureelectronic service of pleadings louisianaarticle 1313 louisianacertificate of service louisianacommercial courier service louisiana