In federal court, state methods to effect service are allowed under which option?

• A. Forum state only
• B. Service place state only
• C. Forum state or service place state
• D. Neither forum state nor service place state

Answer: (C)

In federal court, you may effect service of process using methods allowed by state law, and you can choose between the forum state (the state where the federal court sits) or the state where service is being made (the service place state). This flexibility comes from Rule 4, which authorizes service in the manner prescribed by either the forum state’s law or the service place state’s law, or by other methods permitted by rule. The idea is to align federal practice with familiar state procedures while still ensuring validity.

So, service can be effected according to the forum state’s rules or according to the rules of the state where service is to occur. For example, in a federal case filed in New York, you could serve using New York’s service rules or California’s service rules if the defendant is in California, as long as California’s method is permitted by its own law and by Rule 4. This dual-permittive approach explains why the correct option involves both the forum state and the service place state.