<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ON DECEMBER 20, 1999
SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATION NO. 2-91216
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT REGISTRATION NO. 811-4023
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 / /
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 38 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 / /
AMENDMENT NO. 39 /X/
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
------------------------
PRUDENTIAL MUNICIPAL SERIES FUND
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
GATEWAY CENTER THREE,
100 MULBERRY STREET
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102-4077
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (973) 367-7530
DEBORAH A. DOCS, ESQ.
GATEWAY CENTER THREE
100 MULBERRY STREET
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102-4077
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after the effective
date of the Registration Statement.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
(check appropriate box):
/ / immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/X/ on December 23, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/ / on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/ / 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
/ / on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
/ / this post-effective amendment designates a new
effective date for a previously filed post-effective
amendment.
Title of Securities Being Registered......Shares of Beneficial Interest,
$.01 Par Value.
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Pursuant to Rule 485(b)(1)(iii), Registrant hereby designates December 23,
1999 as the new effective date for post-effective amendment no. 37 to the
Fund's registration statement on Form N-1A, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the
requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to its
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Newark, and State of New Jersey, on the 20th day of December, 1999.
PRUDENTIAL MUNICIPAL SERIES FUND
By: /s/ JOHN R. STRANGFELD,
JR.
-------------------------------
John R. Strangfeld, Jr.,
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by
the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME TITLE DATE
---- ----- ----
<C> <S> <C>
/s/ EDWARD D. BEACH
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Edward D. Beach
/s/ EUGENE C. DORSEY
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Eugene C. Dorsey
/s/ DELAYNE D. GOLD
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Delayne D. Gold
/s/ ROBERT F. GUNIA
- ------------------------------------------- Vice President and Trustee December 20, 1999
Robert F. Gunia
/s/ THOMAS T. MOONEY
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Thomas T. Mooney
/s/ THOMAS H. O'BRIEN
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Thomas H. O'Brien
/s/ DAVID R. ODENATH
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
David R. Odenath
/s/ RICHARD A. REDEKER
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Richard A. Redeker
/s/ JOHN R. STRANGFELD, JR.
- ------------------------------------------- President and Trustee December 20, 1999
John R. Strangfeld, Jr.
/s/ NANCY H. TEETERS
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Nancy H. Teeters
/S/ LOUIS A. WEIL, III
- ------------------------------------------- Trustee December 20, 1999
Louis A. Weil, III
/s/ GRACE C. TORRES
- ------------------------------------------- Principal Financial and Accounting December 20, 1999
Grace C. Torres Officer
</TABLE>
C-6
