Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) has been amended reducing the time for service of a summons from 120 days to 90 days.  The Order from the Chief Justice approving this rule change and others, states: "the foregoing amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall take effect on December 1, 2015.”

In the Northern District of Indiana, the Court has determined to apply the Rule 4(m) change relating to the time period for service of a summons as follows:

For any civil case commenced and pending prior to Dec. 1, 2015, the parties will have 120 days to serve the summons (no matter when summons are requested to be issued). For any case commenced on or after Dec. 1, 2015, the parties will have the shortened 90 day time-frame to serve.