Short answer. Through a printout of the e-mail as sent, together with a copy of the summons as served and the affidavit of the person who sent it. Proof of service otherwise generally states the manner, place, and date of service, and must specify what papers were served and to whom.
What the law says
The proof of service of a summons shall be made in writing by the server and shall set forth the manner, place, and date of service; shall specify any papers which have been served with the process and the name of the person who received the same; and shall be sworn to when made by a person other than a sheriff or his or her deputy. If summons was served by electronic mail, a printout of said e-mail, with a copy of the summons as served, and the affidavit of the person mailing, shall constitute as proof of service.
Rule 14, Section 21 — Proof of service. Read the full provision →
The general proof-of-service requirements
Proof of service of a summons must generally be made in writing by the server who actually carried it out, and it must set forth the manner, place, and date of service in reasonable detail. It must also specify any papers that were served along with the process itself, and name the specific person who received them, and if made by anyone other than a sheriff or deputy sheriff, that written proof must additionally be sworn to under oath.
The specific rule for e-mail service
For summons that was served by electronic mail specifically, the rule provides a distinct combination of documents that together constitute sufficient proof: a printout of the e-mail that was actually sent, a copy of the summons exactly as it was served, and the affidavit of the person who personally carried out the mailing of that e-mail. Each of the three elements corroborates the others, together forming a complete substitute for a traditional signed return of service.
Why a printout is treated as sufficient proof
Because an e-mail transmission itself is not a physical document that can simply be filed with the court the way a signed return or a registry receipt normally can be, the rule substitutes a printed record of the transmission — capturing exactly what was sent, precisely when, and to what electronic address — as the tangible equivalent, paired together with the actual served copy of the summons and the sworn statement of the person who sent it out.
Applying the general elements to e-mail proof
Even with this specific e-mail-based combination of documents, the underlying purpose behind the general rule still applies fully: the printout and accompanying affidavit together should still make clear the manner of service (e-mail specifically), the exact date it occurred, and precisely to whom the summons was sent, so that this particular proof of service functionally satisfies the same core informational needs as any other recognized mode of service under this Rule.
Related provisions
- Rule 14, Section 21 — Proof of service
- Rule 14, Section 20 — Return
- Rule 14, Section 22 — Proof of service by publication