Open the official Form F15 PDF ↗ · Check Rules 6-3 and 6-6 ↗
What Form F15 proves
Rule 6-6 says personal service of a Notice of Family Claim, a counterclaim on a person who has not filed a pleading, a petition, or another document served personally can be proved by filing an affidavit of personal service in Form F15.
Who normally swears it
The affidavit is evidence from the person who carried out the service. The person signing must be able to state how the recipient was identified, what was served and when and where service occurred. Check Rule 6-3 before arranging service: who can serve and how the documents must be delivered depend on the document and situation.
Complete Form F15: field-by-field
- Court file: use the same registry, file number and party names shown on the case.
- Person making the affidavit: the server identifies themselves. Do not have someone who did not deliver the papers swear to events they did not witness.
- Time and place: record the exact date, time and location of personal service; give the name of the person served.
- Documents: specify the document or documents personally delivered, not merely “court papers.” Attach a copy of what was served and identify it as Exhibit A as required by the form.
- Identification: describe how the server knew the recipient was the intended person. The prescribed F15 includes additional identification/exhibit wording for certain divorce-claim service; use the relevant paragraphs and exhibits if they apply.
- Swearing or affirming: make the affidavit before a person authorized to take affidavits. Do not pre-sign the jurat or leave exhibits unmarked; ask the commissioner how to assemble the affidavit and exhibits.
Use the conditional paragraphs actually applicable to the service. Do not swear that a photo or identification check occurred if it did not.
Personal service vs ordinary service
Do not use F15 merely because a document was delivered. Part 6 distinguishes personal service from ordinary service. Ordinary service is generally proved with Form F16 instead. If personal service cannot be completed in the ordinary way, check the Rules and seek any required alternative-service order before relying on another method.
Before filing: practical checklist
- Confirm which document requires personal service and who may serve it.
- Give the server complete, identical copies of the documents that must be served.
- After service, collect the date, time, location and identification details while they are fresh.
- Complete only the relevant F15 paragraphs; attach properly marked copies as exhibits.
- Have the affidavit sworn or affirmed, file it when proof of service is required, and keep a copy.
Worked example: Notice of Family Claim
A person authorized under the Rules personally gives the respondent the Notice of Family Claim and accompanying materials. The server later records where and when the papers were delivered and explains how they identified the respondent. Their sworn F15 identifies each served document and contains the required exhibits. The claimant checks the filing requirements rather than treating an unsigned affidavit as proof.
Common mistakes
- Having a party perform service where the Rules require service by someone else.
- Not being able to explain how the person served was identified.
- Listing the wrong document or date.
- Using F15 for ordinary service.
Related guides
Service guide · Form F16 · Form F3.