The person serving the process shall make proof of service thereof on the original process and on the copy. Proof of service shall be promptly filed with the court within the time during which the person served must respond thereto either by the person making service or by the party on whose behalf service is made. The proof of service, which shall be in a form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts, shall state the name of the person served and the place, mode and date of service, and a copy thereof shall be forthwith furnished plaintiff’s attorney by the person serving process. If service is made upon a member of the household pursuant to R. 4:4-4 that person’s name shall be stated in the proof or, if such name cannot be ascertained, the proof shall contain a description of the person upon whom service was made. If service is made by a person other than a sheriff or a court appointee, proof of service shall be by similar affidavit which shall include the facts of the affiant’s diligent inquiry regarding defendant’s place of abode, business or employment. If service is made by mail, the party making service shall make proof thereof by affidavit which shall also include the facts of the failure to effect personal service and the facts of the affiant’s diligent inquiry to determine defendant’s place of abode, business or employment. With the proof shall be filed the affidavit or affidavits of inquiry, if any, required by R. 4:4-4 and R. 4:4-5. Where service is made by registered or certified mail and simultaneously by regular mail, the return receipt card, or the printout of the electronic confirmation of delivery, which shall include an image of the recipient’s signature, provided by the U.S. Postal Service, or the unclaimed registered or certified mail shall be filed as part of the proof. A party making service by registered or certified mail and simultaneously by regular mail may file a photocopy of the return receipt card in lieu of the original return receipt card as the proof of service but only if the original is unavailable. Failure to make proof of service does not affect the validity of service.
Rule 4:4-7.Return
Last amended September 4, 2012 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:4-7 requires the person who serves process to make and promptly file proof of service stating who was served and the place, mode, and date, with added detail for mail service and private service, and provides that a failure to make proof does not invalidate the service.
Full Text of Rule 4:4-7
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source - R.R. 4:4-7. Amended July 14, 1972 to be effective September 5, 1972; amended June 29, 1990 to be effective September 4, 1990; amended July 14, 1992 to be effective September 1, 1992; amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; amended July 10, 1998 to be effective September 1, 1998; amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; amended July 23, 2010 to be effective September 1, 2010; amended July 19, 2012 to be effective September 4, 2012.
Plain-English Summary
Once process is served, the court needs a record of it. This rule requires the server to make proof of service on the original and the copy and to file it promptly, in the form the Administrative Director prescribes. The proof states the name of the person served and the place, mode, and date of service, and a copy goes to the plaintiff’s attorney.
The detail required scales with the method. Service on a household member calls for that person’s name or a description; private service and mail service call for an affidavit covering the diligent inquiry into the defendant’s whereabouts; and mailed service is documented with the return receipt or the postal service’s electronic confirmation. Importantly, a failure to make proof does not affect the validity of the service itself — proof records what happened, it is not what makes service effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must proof of service show?
The name of the person served and the place, mode, and date of service, in the form the Administrative Director of the Courts prescribes, with added detail for service on a household member, private service, or mailed service.
Does a defective or missing proof of service undo the service?
No. The rule states that failure to make proof of service does not affect the validity of service. Proof documents the service; it is not what makes the service effective.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:4-7). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: proof of servicereturn of serviceaffidavit of servicefiling proof of service