Rule 43.01.Service of Pleadings and Other Papers.

Part I · Rule 43: Service and Filing of Pleadings and Papers · Last amended January 1, 2027 · Last verified July 22, 2026

This rule prints two full, separately-dated versions in the official compilation (a pending or recent amendment straddle); both are shown below.

In one sentenceThis rule spells out which papers must be served on other parties, who receives service when a party is represented by an attorney, the approved methods of service, when service is complete, and how service must be documented.

Full Text of Rule 43.01

Text sizeEffective until January 1, 2027 — jump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

Effective January 1, 2027 — jump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

Rule 43.01. Service of Pleadings and Other Papers. — Effective until January 1, 2027

(a) Service — When Required. Each party shall be served with:

(1) Every pleading subsequent to the original petition;

(2) Every written motion, other than one that may be heard ex parte; and

(3) Every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, order, and similar paper that by statute, court rule, or order is required to be served.

No service need be made on parties in default for failure to appear, except that pleadings asserting new or additional claims for relief against them shall be served upon them in the manner provided for service of summons. In cases filed under Chapter 517 RSMo, service as required in Rule 43.01 shall be made on every party that has entered or appeared in person or by attorney.

(b) Service — On Whom. Whenever under these rules or any of the statutes of this state service is required or permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney of record, the service shall be made upon the attorney, unless the court orders service upon the party. When more than one attorney represents a party, service may be made upon any such attorney. If an attorney has filed an entry of limited appearance for an otherwise self-represented person, service shall be made on:

(1) The self-represented person, and

(2) Until the attorney files a termination of limited appearance, the attorney.

(c) Service — How and by Whom Made. Attorneys and self-represented parties shall state in the signature blocks of their pleadings their current mailing addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, electronic addresses, and Missouri bar numbers if any. This information shall be kept current at all times. Service may be directed to any of these addresses. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, service required by Rules 43.01(a) and 43.01(b) may be made in the following manner:

(1) Upon the attorney:

(A) By delivering a copy to the attorney;

(B) By leaving a copy at the attorney’s office with a clerk, receptionist, or secretary or with an attorney employed by or associated with the attorney to be served;

(D) By electronic mail; or

(E) By mailing a copy to the attorney at the attorney’s last known address;

(2) Upon a party:

(A) By delivering or mailing a copy to the party;

(B) By facsimile transmission;

(D) By serving a copy in the manner provided for service of summons in Rule 54.13.

(d) Service — When Complete. Personal service on attorneys and self-represented parties and service by leaving a copy at the attorney’s office is complete upon delivery. Service by mail is complete upon mailing. Service by facsimile transmission or electronic mail is complete upon transmission, except that a transmission made on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, or after 5:00 p.m. shall be complete on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

(e) Service — How Shown. Service may be shown by acknowledgment of receipt or by written certificate of the person making such service. Certificates of service shall state the:

(1) Name of each person served;

(2) Date of service;

(3) Method of service; and

(4) Address of service, such as mailing address, facsimile number or electronic mail address.

(f) Service — Numerous Defendants. If there are unusually large numbers of defendants in an action, the court, upon motion or of its own initiative, may order that:

(1) Service of the pleadings of the defendants, and reply thereto, need not be made as between the defendants;

(2) Any cross-claim, counterclaim, or pleading constituting an avoidance or affirmative defense contained therein shall be deemed to be denied or avoided by all other parties; and

(3) The filing of any such pleading and service thereof upon the plaintiff constitutes due notice of it to the parties. A copy of every such order shall be served upon the parties in such manner and form as the court directs.

(g) Service — Time for — When No Time Specified. When provision is made for the time of filing papers and none is made for the time of service thereof, copies shall be served on the day of filing or as soon thereafter as can be done.

(h) Service of Orders, Judgments and Other Documents. Any order, judgment or other document issued by the court may be transmitted to the attorney or party as authorized in Rule 43.01(c), provided service pursuant to Rule 54 is not required. Such documents may be transmitted to non-parties in the same manner as is authorized for service upon an attorney.

Rule 43.01. Service of Pleadings and Other Papers. — Effective January 1, 2027

(a) Service — When Required. Each party shall be served with:

(1) Every pleading subsequent to the original petition;

(2) Every written motion, other than one that may be heard ex parte; and

(3) Every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, order, and similar paper that by statute, court rule, or order is required to be served.

(1) The self-represented person, and

(2) Until the attorney files a termination of limited appearance, the attorney.

(c) Service - How and by Whom Made. Attorneys and self-represented parties shall state in the signature blocks of their pleadings their current mailing addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, electronic addresses, and Missouri bar numbers, if any. Service may be directed to any of these addresses. An attorney or self-represented party whose mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, or electronic mail address changes shall file written notice to the clerk of the court in which the case is pending of the change. The court may update its address of record when the court receives credible information that the attorney's or self-represented party's address has changed. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, service required by Rules 43.01(a) and 43.01(b) may be made in the following manner:

(1) Upon the attorney:

(A) By delivering a copy to the attorney;

(B) By leaving a copy at the attorney's office with a clerk, receptionist, or secretary or with an attorney employed by or associated with the attorney to be served;

(D) By electronic mail; or

(E) By mailing a copy to the attorney at the attorney's last known address;

(2) Upon a party:

(A) By delivering or mailing a copy to the party;

(B) By facsimile transmission;

(D) By serving a copy in the manner provided for service of summons in Rule 54.13.

(d) Service — When Complete. Personal service on attorneys and self-represented parties and service by leaving a copy at the attorney’s office is complete upon delivery.

Service by mail is complete upon mailing.

Service by facsimile transmission or electronic mail is complete upon transmission, except that a transmission made on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, or after 5:00 p.m. shall be complete on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

(e) Service — How Shown. Service may be shown by acknowledgment of receipt or by written certificate of the person making such service. Certificates of service shall state the:

(1) Name of each person served;

(2) Date of service;

(3) Method of service; and

(4) Address of service, such as mailing address, facsimile number or electronic mail address.

(f) Service — Numerous Defendants. If there are unusually large numbers of defendants in an action, the court, upon motion or of its own initiative, may order that:

(1) Service of the pleadings of the defendants, and reply thereto, need not be made as between the defendants;

(2) Any cross-claim, counterclaim, or pleading constituting an avoidance or affirmative defense contained therein shall be deemed to be denied or avoided by all other parties; and

(3) The filing of any such pleading and service thereof upon the plaintiff constitutes due notice of it to the parties.

A copy of every such order shall be served upon the parties in such manner and form as the court directs.

Amendment History

Effective until January 1, 2027

Adopted February 1, 1972, eff. September 1, 1972; Amended January 19, 1973, eff. September 1, 1973; Amended May 22, 1987, eff. January 1, 1988; Amended July 1, 1990; Amended June 1, 1993, eff. January 1, 1994; Amended September 28, 1993, eff. January 1, 1994; Amended April 23, 1996, eff. January 1, 1997; Amended June 21, 2005, eff. January 1, 2006; Amended Dec. 21, 2007, eff. July 1, 2008; Amended June 23, 2008, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Amended December 22, 2009, eff. July 1, 2010; Amended Dec. 16, 2011, eff. July 1, 2012; Amended July 1, 2018.

Effective January 1, 2027

Official Comment

Effective until January 1, 2027

Paragraph (a) is substantially the same as prior Rule 43.01(a). An order is added to the list of papers required to be served. Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) are substantially the same as prior Rule 43.01(b), (c), (d) and (f). The following sentence is added in paragraph (b): “When a party is represented by more than one attorney service may be made upon any such attorney.” Paragraph (e) is the same as prior Rule 43.01(e). Paragraph (f) is the same as prior Rule 43.01(g). Paragraph (g) is the same as prior Rule 43.01(h). Paragraph (h) is the same as prior Rule 43.01(i). Compare: Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Effective January 1, 2027

Plain-English Summary

Rule 43.01 is the backbone of Missouri’s service-of-papers practice. Subsection (a) lists what has to be served on every party: any pleading after the original petition, any written motion that cannot be heard ex parte, and any written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, order, or similar paper that a statute, court rule, or order requires to be served. Parties in default for failing to appear generally do not need to be served, except that a pleading raising new or additional claims against them still must be served in the manner used for a summons.

Subsection (b) explains who receives service. If a party is represented by an attorney of record, service goes to the attorney instead of the party, unless the court orders otherwise, and service on any one of multiple attorneys for the same party is enough. Where an attorney has entered a limited appearance for an otherwise self-represented person, service goes to both the self-represented person and the attorney, until the attorney files a termination of that limited appearance.

Subsection (c) requires attorneys and self-represented parties to list their current mailing address, phone number, fax number, email address, and Missouri bar number (if any) in their signature blocks, and lets service go to any of those addresses. Approved methods include personal delivery, leaving a copy at the attorney’s office with office staff, fax, email, or mail. Service by mail is complete on mailing; personal or office delivery is complete on delivery; fax or email is complete on transmission, except that a transmission after 5:00 p.m. or on a weekend or legal holiday is treated as complete the next business day. Certificates of service must state who was served, the date, the method, and the address used. The rule also lets a court streamline service among unusually numerous defendants and addresses service of orders and judgments. A rule amendment tied to how attorneys and self-represented parties must keep their contact information current with the court takes effect January 1, 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of documents does Rule 43.01 require me to serve on other parties?

Every pleading after the original petition, every written motion that is not heard ex parte, and every written notice, appearance, demand, offer of judgment, order, or similar paper that a statute, rule, or order requires to be served.

If the other side has a lawyer, do I serve the lawyer or the party directly?

You serve the attorney of record, unless the court orders service on the party directly. If a party has more than one attorney, service on any one of them is sufficient.

When is service by email or fax considered complete?

It is complete upon transmission, except that a transmission sent on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or after 5:00 p.m. is treated as complete on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

What has to be included in a certificate of service?

The name of each person served, the date of service, the method of service, and the address used, such as a mailing address, fax number, or email address.

Does a party in default still need to be served with everything?

Generally no, once a party is in default for failing to appear, except that a pleading asserting new or additional claims against that party must still be served in the manner used for service of summons.

Is there a change coming to how attorneys keep their contact information current with the court?

Yes. Effective January 1, 2027, the rule adds a requirement that an attorney or self-represented party whose address, phone number, fax number, or email changes must file written notice of the change with the clerk, and allows the court to update its own address of record when it receives credible information of a change.

Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. · Official source

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