North Dakota Process Serving FAQ
Answers to common questions about N.D.R.Civ.P. Rule 3 & Rule 4, statutory witness and garnishee fees, eviction timelines, and statewide flat-rate service.
Order Process Service ($75) →How much does a process server cost in North Dakota?
We charge transparent flat rates across all 53 North Dakota counties: Standard Service is $75 (first attempt within 3–5 business days), Rush Service is $125 (first attempt within 24–48 hours), and Same-Day Priority Service is $175. Every tier includes up to three diligent attempts and an Odyssey-ready Return of Service.
Does a lawsuit in North Dakota start when filed or when served?
Under N.D.R.Civ.P. Rule 3, a civil action in North Dakota is commenced by the service of a summons—NOT by filing a complaint with the clerk of court. That means the statute of limitations keeps running until the summons is legally served on the defendant (or delivered to the county sheriff under N.D.C.C. § 28-01-38).
Who can legally serve process in North Dakota?
Under N.D.R.Civ.P. Rule 4(c), service of all process within North Dakota may be made by any person of legal age (18 or older) who is not a party to nor interested in the action.
Can legal papers be served on a Sunday or holiday in North Dakota?
No. Under North Dakota Century Code § 1-08-09, serving civil process on a Sunday or any state legal holiday defined in N.D.C.C. § 1-03-01 (including Good Friday) is strictly prohibited and legally void unless a judge endorses a specific statutory emergency order on the process.
What is the statutory witness fee for a subpoena in North Dakota?
Under N.D.C.C. § 31-01-16 and N.D.R.Civ.P. Rule 45(b)(1), a witness commanded to appear in person in a North Dakota civil case is entitled to $25.00 per day of attendance plus round-trip mileage calculated at the state employee reimbursement rate.
What is the mandatory garnishee fee in North Dakota?
Under N.D.C.C. § 32-09.1-10, a $15.00 disclosure fee must be paid to the garnishee (the employer or bank) at the time the Garnishment Summons is served, or the garnishment is legally void.
How does North Dakota's 3-Day Notice of Intention to Evict work?
Under N.D.C.C. § 47-32-02, before filing a summary eviction for nonpayment of rent or holdover, the landlord must serve a written 3-Day Notice of Intention to Evict. Once the Eviction Summons is issued, the hearing is set within 3 to 15 days, and the summons must be served at least 3 days (or 7 days if outside the county) before the hearing.
Are Northwest Registered Agent and Registered Agents Inc. the same company in Fargo?
No. Northwest Registered Agent, LLC and Registered Agents Inc. (RAI) are two completely separate commercial registered agent companies, even though both maintain offices at 3003 32nd Avenue South, Suite 240, Fargo, ND 58103. We serve both daily, as well as CT Corporation System and CSC in Bismarck.
How do I domesticate an out-of-state subpoena in North Dakota?
Under North Dakota Rule of Court 5.1 (UIDDA), you can submit the foreign subpoena to the Clerk of District Court in the North Dakota county where discovery is sought OR have a North Dakota-licensed attorney issue the subpoena directly, and then have our process servers serve it under Rule 45.
What proof of service do you provide for North Dakota Odyssey e-filing?
We provide a court-ready Return of Service executed as an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury pursuant to N.D.C.C. Chapter 31-15 (or notarized affidavit under Rule 4(i)), complete with date, time, GPS coordinates, and recipient details formatted for North Dakota Odyssey upload.
Want Deeper Statutory Detail?
Browse our 12 in-depth North Dakota Civil Procedure Guides or view our verified Fargo & Bismarck Registered Agent directory.
Still Have Questions?
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