(a) Personal service upon any domestic or foreign limited partnership shall be made by delivering a copy personally to any managing or general agent or general partner of the limited partnership in this state, to any other agent or employee of the limited partnership authorized by appointment to receive service or to any other person designated by the limited partnership to receive process, in the manner provided by law for service of summons, as if such person was the defendant. Personal service upon a limited partnership subject to the provisions of article eight-A of the partnership law may also be made pursuant to section 121-109 of such law.
§ 310-a.Personal service upon a limited partnership
Article 3. Jurisdiction and Service, Appearance and Choice of Court · Last amended 1999 · Last verified July 21, 2026
In one sentenceCPLR 310-a lets a domestic or foreign limited partnership be served by delivering the summons to a managing or general agent, a general partner, an authorized agent, or a designated recipient in New York, or through the Partnership Law's alternate service provisions.
Full Text of CPLR 310-a
(b) If service is impracticable under subdivision (a) of this section, it may be made in such manner as the court, upon motion without notice, directs.
(c) A limited liability partnership may also be served pursuant to section 121-1505 of the partnership law.
Plain-English Summary
Service on a limited partnership works by delivering a copy of the summons personally to any managing or general agent, or any general partner, of the limited partnership within New York, to any other agent the partnership has authorized by appointment to accept service, or to anyone the partnership has designated to receive process -- following the same rules that would apply if that recipient were the defendant. A limited partnership governed by Article 8-A of the Partnership Law has an additional option: service under Partnership Law section 121-109.
Subdivision (b) gives a court the power to direct another manner of service, on motion without notice, when service under subdivision (a) turns out to be impracticable.
Subdivision (c) points to a related but distinct entity type -- a limited liability partnership can also be served under Partnership Law section 121-1505, a service route built specifically for that form of partnership rather than the ordinary general partnerships covered by CPLR 310 or the limited partnerships covered here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you serve a limited partnership in New York?
By personally delivering a copy of the summons to a managing or general agent, a general partner, an authorized agent, or a person the limited partnership has designated to receive process.
Who can accept service for a limited partnership under CPLR 310-a?
Any managing or general agent, any general partner, any agent authorized by appointment to receive service, or any other person the limited partnership has designated to receive process.
Is there a different service rule for limited liability partnerships?
Yes. Subdivision (c) notes that a limited liability partnership may also be served under Partnership Law section 121-1505, a separate provision from the one governing limited partnerships.
What if a limited partnership's agent can't be located for service?
Subdivision (b) lets a court direct an alternate manner of service, on motion without notice, when service under subdivision (a) is impracticable.
Does the Partnership Law provide an alternate way to serve a limited partnership?
Yes. A limited partnership subject to Article 8-A of the Partnership Law may also be served under Partnership Law section 121-109.
Amendment History
Add, L 1999, ch 341, § 1, eff July 27, 1999.
Source & verification. Provision text, History, and Advisory
Committee Notes are reproduced verbatim from the Consolidated Laws of New York.
Last verified July 21, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: serve a limited partnership New Yorklimited liability partnership service New YorkLP service of process CPLRNew York limited partnership lawsuit service