If you’ve hired a process server—or you’re waiting to be served—one of the most common questions is simply: how many tries does it take? In California, there’s no single magic number, but there is a clear standard the courts expect: reasonable diligence.
Is there a required number of attempts in California?
California law does not set a fixed statutory number of attempts. Instead, courts look for “reasonable diligence” before allowing any alternative to personal service. In practice, that usually means at least three documented attempts at different times of day and on different days—for example, a weekday morning, a weekday evening, and a weekend. The goal is to genuinely catch the person at home or work, not to check a box.
Why attempts are spread across different times
People keep different schedules. Someone who is never home on a Tuesday morning may answer the door on a Saturday afternoon. Varying the day and time is what makes the effort “diligent” in the eyes of the court—and it’s what gives substituted service or a court order its legal footing later if personal service isn’t possible.
What happens after diligent attempts fail?
When a person can’t be personally served despite diligent attempts, the next steps may include substituted service (leaving the documents with a competent adult at the home or workplace and mailing a copy), or asking the court for service by posting or publication. Every attempt is recorded in a Declaration of Diligence, which becomes part of the court record.
How we handle attempts at Sacramento Registered Process Server
We make prompt, well-documented attempts at varied times, keep you updated as we go, and escalate to substituted service the moment it is warranted—then deliver a court-ready proof of service or declaration of diligence. You’re never left wondering where your service stands.
