A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending rule 4 of the North Carolina Rules of civil procedure to allow acceptance of service using a form issued by the administrative office of the courts.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 1A‑1, Rule 4(j5) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure reads as rewritten:
"(j5)	Personal jurisdiction by acceptance of service. – Any party personally, or through the persons provided in Rule 4(j), may accept service of process either (i) by completing an acceptance of service, such as a form for that purpose to be prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts, or (ii) by notation of acceptance of service together with the signature of the party accepting service and the date thereof on an original or copy of a summons. Acceptance of service by either method shall have the same force and effect as would exist had the process been served by delivery of copy and summons and complaint to the person signing the acceptance."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2023, and applies to actions commenced on or after that date.