---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 3004"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "3004"
heading: "Service of process; enforcement; notice"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/3004"
units:
  - "Part VI — Particular Proceedings"
  - "Chapter 176 — Federal Debt Collection Procedure"
  - "Subchapter A — Definitions and General Provisions"
---

# §3004. Service of process; enforcement; notice

- (a) **Manner of Service.—** A complaint, notice, writ, or other process required to be served in an action or proceeding under this chapter shall be served in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
- (b) **Nationwide Enforcement.—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#b-2)—
    - (A) any writ, order, [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8), or other process, including a summons and complaint, filed under this chapter may be served in any [State](/usc/28/3002.md?p=14); and
    - (B) such writ, order, or [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) may be enforced by the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) issuing the writ, order, or process, regardless of where the [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) is served with the writ, order, or process.
  - (2) If the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) so requests, within 20 days after receiving the notice described in section [3101(d)](/usc/28/3101.md) or [3202(b)](/usc/28/3202.md), the action or proceeding in which the writ, order, or [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) was issued shall be transferred to the district [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) for the district in which the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) resides.
- (c) **Notice and Other Process.—** At such time as [counsel for the United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=1) considers appropriate, but not later than the time a prejudgment or postjudgment remedy is put into effect under this chapter, [counsel for the United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=1) shall exercise reasonable diligence to serve on the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) and any [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) who the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) believes, after exercising due diligence, has possession, custody, or control of the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12), a copy of the application for such remedy, the order granting such remedy, and the notice required by section [3101(d)](/usc/28/3101.md) or [3202(b)](/usc/28/3202.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXVI, § 3611, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4936.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (a), are set out in the Appendix to this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Nov. 29, 1990, and applicable with respect to certain actions for debts owed the United States pending in court on that effective date, see section 3631 of Pub. L. 101–647, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.