Certificate of Service - Texas

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

State of Texas

TEXAS SERVICE RULES — QUICK REFERENCE

Scope: Rules 21 and 21a govern service of later papers and notices. This certificate does not establish service of the initial citation. Apply any express different service rule, court order, or estate/guardianship provision before selecting a method.

Electronic Filing: Rule 21(f)(1) requires attorneys to file electronically where mandated, except the specified juvenile and truancy cases. Unrepresented parties may file electronically. Rule 21(f)(4) separately addresses wills, sealed or restricted documents, and court-permitted paper filings. Rule 21(f)(3) uses the Office of Court Administration filing manager and a certified filing service provider; Government Code §72.031 authorizes the electronic filing system.

Electronic Service: Under Rule 21a(a)(1), an electronically filed document must be served through the electronic filing manager when the recipient's email is on file with it. Otherwise use an authorized Rule 21a(a)(2) method. Record actual service, recipients, and confirmation; filing alone does not establish service. Manager service is complete on transmission to the serving party's electronic filing service provider under Rule 21a(b)(3).

Other Methods: Rule 21a(a)(2) permits service in person, by mail, commercial delivery, fax, email, or a manner directed by the court for documents not filed electronically and for recipients covered by the (a)(1) fallback. Record a valid recipient/address and the applicable route.

Completion and Added Time: Mail and commercial delivery are complete on properly addressed, postpaid deposit under Rule 21a(b)(1). Fax is complete on receipt, with receipt after 5 p.m. recipient-local time deemed service on the following day under (b)(2). Rule 21a(c) adds three days only to a prescribed period for action after service by mail. Compute the actual deadline under Rule 4 and any controlling special rule or order; a certificate does not by itself settle a contested deadline.

Signed Proof: Rules 21(d) and 21a(e) require a signed written service certification on the filed instrument. A party/attorney certificate, officer return, or other person's service affidavit is prima facie evidence; Rule 21a(e) preserves proof of nonreceipt and possible court relief. Rule 21(f)(2) requires the filer’s email on an electronically filed document.

PART I — CASE CAPTION

IN THE [________________________________] COURT
[________________________________] COUNTY, TEXAS

Cause No.: [________________________________]

Presiding Judge: [________________________________]

PART II — IDENTIFICATION OF DOCUMENT(S) SERVED

Title(s) of Document(s) Served:

1. [________________________________]
2. [________________________________]
3. [________________________________]
4. [________________________________]
5. [________________________________]

(Attach additional sheet if necessary)

Total Pages Served (including all exhibits and attachments): [____]

Date of Service: [__/__/____]

PART III — PARTIES AND COUNSEL SERVED

Party/Counsel No. 1:

Name: [________________________________]
Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]
Mailing Address: [________________________________]
City, State, Zip: [________________________________], TX [________]
Email Address: [________________________________]
Fax Number: [________________________________]
Texas State Bar No.: [________________________________]
Email Address Registered with EFM (eFileTexas): ☐ Yes ☐ No
Representing: ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant ☐ Third Party ☐ Intervenor ☐ Counter-Defendant ☐ Other: [____________]
Self-Represented: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Party/Counsel No. 2:

Name: [________________________________]
Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]
Mailing Address: [________________________________]
City, State, Zip: [________________________________], TX [________]
Email Address: [________________________________]
Fax Number: [________________________________]
Texas State Bar No.: [________________________________]
Email Address Registered with EFM (eFileTexas): ☐ Yes ☐ No
Representing: ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant ☐ Third Party ☐ Intervenor ☐ Counter-Defendant ☐ Other: [____________]
Self-Represented: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Party/Counsel No. 3:

Name: [________________________________]
Law Firm/Organization: [________________________________]
Mailing Address: [________________________________]
City, State, Zip: [________________________________], TX [________]
Email Address: [________________________________]
Fax Number: [________________________________]
Texas State Bar No.: [________________________________]
Email Address Registered with EFM (eFileTexas): ☐ Yes ☐ No
Representing: ☐ Plaintiff ☐ Defendant ☐ Third Party ☐ Intervenor ☐ Counter-Defendant ☐ Other: [____________]
Self-Represented: ☐ Yes ☐ No

(Attach additional sheets for additional parties)

PART IV — METHOD OF SERVICE

Select the authorized method actually used for each recipient. If an electronically filed document must be served through the manager under Rule 21a(a)(1), use Section A; use Sections B–F only under an applicable (a)(2) or other express rule/order route.

A. Electronic Service through the Filing Manager (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(1), (b)(3))

☐ Electronic Service through the Filing Manager

I served the identified document(s) through the electronic filing manager on the recipients listed below whose email addresses are on file with the manager. Rule 21a(b)(3) makes this service complete on transmission of the document to the serving party’s electronic filing service provider. The actual transmission and confirmation records are: [RECORD / ATTACHMENT].

EFSP Used: [________________________________]
Date and Time of Service Transmission: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
eFileTexas Envelope/Transaction ID: [________________________________]

Parties/counsel served via EFM (email addresses registered with EFM):
Name: [________________________________] EFSP/Email: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] EFSP/Email: [________________________________]

Parties/counsel NOT registered with EFM (served by alternative method — identify below):
Name: [________________________________] Alternative Method: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] Alternative Method: [________________________________]

Keep the manager confirmation as evidence and provide the signed certification required by Rules 21(d) and 21a(e).

B. Electronic Mail Service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(2))

☐ Service by Electronic Mail (Email)

Email was used under Rule 21a(a)(2) because [THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT FILED ELECTRONICALLY / THE RECIPIENT’S EMAIL IS NOT ON FILE WITH THE MANAGER / IDENTIFY ANOTHER EXPRESS RULE OR ORDER]. When Rule 21a(a)(1) requires manager service, ordinary email does not replace that route.

Recipient email source and any applicable service order: [________________________________]

Email Address(es) Used: [________________________________]
Date and Time of Email Transmission: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Email Subject Line: [________________________________]
No failed/undeliverable notification received: ☐ Confirmed

Preserve transmission/delivery records and address any failure. Rule 21a(b)(3) expressly addresses service through a filing service provider; determine the completion event for this separate email route under the applicable rule or order. Rule 21a(c)’s three added days apply to mail.

C. Service by United States Mail (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(2))

☐ First-Class U.S. Mail — Postage Prepaid

I enclosed the document(s) in sealed, properly addressed envelopes with first-class postage fully prepaid and deposited them in the United States mail.

IMPORTANT — MAIL SERVICE EXTENSION: Pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(c), when service is made by mail, three (3) additional days are added to any response or action period computed from the date of service.

Date of Mailing: [__/__/____]
Post Office/Mailing Location: [________________________________], Texas
City and State: [________________________________]

☐ Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested
Certified Mail Article Number(s): [________________________________]
Return Receipt Received: ☐ Yes Date: [__/__/____] ☐ No/Pending

Parties/counsel served by mail:
Name: [________________________________] Address: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________] Address: [________________________________]

D. Personal Delivery (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(2))

☐ Personal Delivery — In Person or by Agent

The document(s) was personally delivered to the attorney or party.

Delivered to: [________________________________]
Capacity: ☐ Attorney of Record ☐ Party ☐ Authorized Agent
Address of Delivery: [________________________________]
Date of Delivery: [__/__/____]
Time of Delivery: [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Delivered by: [________________________________]

E. Commercial Delivery Service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(2))

☐ Service by Commercial Delivery Service

The document(s) was deposited, postpaid and properly addressed, with the commercial delivery service identified below. Service is complete on deposit under Rule 21a(b)(1).

Carrier Name: [________________________________]
Tracking Number: [________________________________]
Date of Deposit: [__/__/____]
Delivery Address: [________________________________]
Service Level: ☐ Same-Day ☐ Next-Day ☐ Other: [____________]
Delivery Confirmed: ☐ Yes — Date: [__/__/____] ☐ Pending

F. Facsimile Service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)(2))

☐ Service by Facsimile

Fax service was made under Rule 21a(a)(2) to the authorized recipient identified below at the verified fax number.

Fax number designated by party: [________________________________]
Party who designated this fax number: [________________________________]
Date and Time of Transmission: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.
Number of Pages (including cover page): [____]
Transmission Confirmation Received: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Fax service is complete on receipt. Receipt after 5 p.m. recipient-local time is deemed service on the following day under Rule 21a(b)(2). Record receipt, rather than only the sending time: [DATE, TIME, AND EVIDENCE].

PART V — SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY SERVICE

(Complete if any party is self-represented/pro se)

☐ One or more parties in this action are self-represented (pro se).

Self-Represented Party Name: [________________________________]
Address on File with Court: [________________________________]
Designated Email (if any): [________________________________]
Designated Fax Number (if any): [________________________________]
Registered with eFileTexas EFM: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Method of service on self-represented party:
☐ U.S. Mail — Address: [________________________________]
☐ Personal delivery
☐ Email under an authorized Rule 21a(a)(2) route: [BASIS]
☐ Fax (designated in filed document)
☐ eFileTexas (confirmed EFM registered)

Apply Rule 21a(a)(1) if the document is filed electronically and the recipient email is on file with the manager; otherwise select a permitted (a)(2) route and record actual service.

PART VI — CERTIFICATION UNDER TEX. R. CIV. P. 21(d) AND 21a(e)

I, the undersigned, certify and declare as follows:

1. I am the ☐ attorney of record (Texas State Bar No.: [________________]) ☐ self-represented party in the above-captioned cause.

2. On [__/__/____], I served or caused to be served a true and correct copy of the document(s) identified in Part II upon all parties and/or counsel identified in Part III, by the method(s) specified in Part IV.

3. I certify compliance with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21a. This certification constitutes prima facie evidence of the fact of service pursuant to Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(e).

4. My email address (which must appear on all electronically filed documents per Tex. R. Civ. P. 21(f)(2)): [________________________________]

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Texas State Bar No.: [________________________________]

Law Firm: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, Zip: [________________________________], TX [________]

Phone: [________________________________]

Fax: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

PART VII — AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE (For Non-Attorney Making Service)

(Optional proof by another person who made service under Rule 21a(d); this is not an initial-process return.)

STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF [________________________________]

I, [________________________________], state under oath:

1. I am competent to testify concerning the service described below. Rule 21a(d) permits service by a party, attorney of record, sheriff or constable, or another person competent to testify.

2. My business/residence address is: [________________________________], [________________________________], Texas [________].

3. On [__/__/____], I served a copy of the document(s) identified in Part II upon the party/counsel identified in Part III.

4. Method of service: [________________________________] (as described in Part IV).

5. Date and time of service: [__/__/____] at [____] ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.

6. Name of person served: [________________________________]

I swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Sworn to and subscribed before me on [__/__/____].

Notary Public, State of Texas: [________________________________]

Notary Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

PART VIII — PROOF OF ELECTRONIC SERVICE (eFileTexas)

(Additional execution record; keep the signed service certification on the filed instrument.)

I, [________________________________], ☐ attorney ☐ self-represented party, certify:

1. On [__/__/____], I electronically filed the document(s) identified in Part II through eFileTexas.gov via EFSP: [________________________________].

2. I served the document(s) through the manager on the following parties/counsel whose email addresses are on file with it. Actual service transmission date/time and confirmation: [________________________________].
   Name: [________________________________] Email: [________________________________]
   Name: [________________________________] Email: [________________________________]

3. The following parties/counsel are NOT registered with the EFM and were served by alternative method as noted in Part IV:
   Name: [________________________________] Method: [________________________________]

4. eFileTexas Envelope/Transaction ID: [________________________________]

5. No notification of failed electronic delivery was received.

Signature: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

PART IX — TEXAS SERVICE SUMMARY TABLE

Local Requirements: Check the selected court's current orders and any express special service rule. Record a requirement and source here: [________________________________].

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Current Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, July 1, 2026 — Rules 4, 21, and 21a.
• Texas Government Code Chapter 72 — §72.031.