The foregoing provisions relative to service of process in suits against non-residents do not prevent personal service in the state upon a non-resident.
Rule 54.19.Provisions No Bar to Personal Service in State.
Part I · Rule 54: Issuance and Service of Summons or Other Process · Last amended September 1, 1973 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThe rules that address serving nonresidents outside Missouri do not stop a plaintiff from personally serving a nonresident defendant while that defendant happens to be physically present within the state.
Full Text of Rule 54.19
Amendment History
Adopted Jan. 19, 1973, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.
Official Comment
This is substantially the same as prior Rule 54.18.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 54.19 makes clear that the long-arm and out-of-state service provisions found elsewhere in Rule 54 are not the only way to reach a nonresident. Those provisions exist to let Missouri courts obtain jurisdiction over people who are outside the state. They do not take away the option of serving a nonresident personally while that person is physically present in Missouri.
In practical terms, if a nonresident defendant happens to be in Missouri — traveling through, visiting, or conducting business — nothing in the rules on service outside the state stops a plaintiff from serving that person the same way any Missouri resident would be served, under Rule 54.13. Rule 54.19 exists to remove any doubt on that point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rule 54.19 create a new method of service?
No, it clarifies that the existing rules on serving nonresidents outside the state do not prevent personal service on a nonresident who is present within Missouri.
Can a nonresident be served under Rule 54.13 while visiting Missouri?
Yes, the provisions relating to service on nonresidents outside the state do not bar personal service within the state upon a nonresident.
Why would a plaintiff prefer in-state personal service over the long-arm and out-of-state provisions?
In-state personal service under Rule 54.13 can be quicker and less costly than arranging service outside Missouri, if the nonresident happens to be physically present in the state.
Does Rule 54.19 override Rule 54.06 or Rule 54.07?
No, it does not replace those rules; it confirms that their existence does not foreclose personal service within the state as an alternative when the nonresident is found there.
Is there an official comment attached to Rule 54.19?
Yes, it notes that the rule is substantially the same as prior Rule 54.18.
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
Also known as: personal service on nonresidentservice within state on nonresidentin-state service nonresident defendantservice of process on nonresident