Serve Pleadings in New York
Pleadings — the complaint, answer, counterclaims, cross-claims, and reply — are the foundational documents of every civil lawsuit in New York. Each must be served in compliance with CPLR to initiate a response obligation and establish the issues before the court. We handle pleading service at every stage of litigation.
What we do
How we handle pleadings
We serve initial pleadings to commence litigation, amended pleadings during the action, and responsive pleadings between parties. Service follows CPLR 308 for individuals and CPLR 311 for entities. Notarized affidavits are returned on completion.
Timeline
Standard service is completed in 3 to 7 business days. If a statute of limitations or a court-ordered deadline is approaching, request same-day or rush service.
Pricing
Residential service in NYC and Long Island is $135. Corporate service statewide is $115. Individual statewide service is $175.
See all tiersFAQ
Questions about serving pleadings
- How is service of an amended complaint handled?
- An amended complaint may be served as of right within 20 days of the original pleading, or with leave of court thereafter. Service on existing parties in the action is typically by mail under CPLR 2103 or by personal service. We handle both.
- When should I serve a cross-claim?
- A cross-claim against a co-defendant in a New York Supreme Court action must be served as part of the answer under CPLR 3011. The timing and method follow the same rules as other responsive pleadings.
- Can you serve a third-party summons and complaint?
- Yes. Third-party pleadings are served on the third-party defendant as if they were the original defendant, including affidavit of service.
Related Document Types
Other documents we serve
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