Sometimes the person who needs to be served has moved, given a bad address, or simply can’t be located. In California, a process server has several tools for exactly this situation, so a missing defendant doesn’t have to stall your case.
First step: locating the person
Often the real problem isn’t avoidance, it’s just an old address, and an updated one solves it.
Substituted service
If the person can’t be served in hand after diligent attempts, the documents may be left with a competent adult at their home or workplace and a copy mailed, which can complete service under California’s substituted-service rules.
Service by posting or publication
As a last resort, and only with a court order, papers may be served by posting (common in evictions) or by publication in a newspaper. These require showing the court that diligent efforts were already made.
The Declaration of Diligence
Every attempt is logged in a Declaration of Diligence. That record is what supports a motion for alternative service and keeps your case on solid footing.
How we find hard-to-serve defendants
We combine persistent, varied attempts with complete documentation, so even tough-to-locate parties get served properly.
