(a) Service of process on any domestic or foreign limited liability company shall be made by delivering a copy personally to (i) any member of the limited liability company in this state, if the management of the limited liability company is vested in its members, (ii) any manager of the limited liability company in this state, if the management of the limited liability company is vested in one or more managers, (iii) to any other agent authorized by appointment to receive process, or (iv) to any other person designated by the limited liability company to receive process, in the manner provided by law for service of a summons as if such person was a defendant. Service of process upon a limited liability company may also be made pursuant to article three of the limited liability company law.
§ 311-a.Personal service on limited liability companies.
Article 3. Jurisdiction and Service, Appearance and Choice of Court · Last amended 1999 · Last verified July 21, 2026
In one sentenceCPLR 311-a lets a domestic or foreign limited liability company be served through any member if member-managed, any manager if manager-managed, an authorized agent, or a designated recipient, or through the Limited Liability Company Law's alternate service provisions.
Full Text of CPLR 311-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.
Plain-English Summary
Who can accept service for a limited liability company depends on how the company is run. If management is vested in its members, service goes to any member in New York. If management is vested in one or more managers instead, service goes to any manager in the state. Either way, service can also reach any agent the company has authorized by appointment to accept process, or any other person the company has designated to receive it -- and whoever receives it is treated the same way a defendant would be for service of a summons. Service can also proceed under Article 3 of the Limited Liability Company Law.
Subdivision (b) gives a court the power to direct another manner of service, on motion without notice, when service under subdivision (a) is impracticable.
The reason a limited liability company gets its own dedicated service section, distinct from the rules for partnerships in CPLR 310-a and corporations in CPLR 311, comes down to structure: an LLC's management can sit with its members or with separate managers, and the statute has to name the right person for each arrangement rather than assume a single management model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you serve a limited liability company in New York?
By personally delivering a copy of the summons to a member (if the LLC is member-managed), a manager (if manager-managed), an authorized agent, or a person the LLC has designated to receive process.
Who can accept service for a member-managed LLC?
Any member of the limited liability company in New York, when management of the company is vested in its members.
Who can accept service for a manager-managed LLC?
Any manager of the limited liability company in New York, when management is vested in one or more managers rather than the members themselves.
Does the Limited Liability Company Law offer another way to serve an LLC?
Yes. Service of process on a limited liability company may also be made under Article 3 of the Limited Liability Company Law.
What if an LLC's members or managers 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.
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 an LLC New York lawsuitservice on limited liability company New Yorkmember-managed LLC service CPLRmanager-managed LLC service New York