What is notice by publication and how does it function in service?

• A. Direct personal service
• B. Direct mail to defendant
• C. Publication in a newspaper to provide notice when a defendant cannot be located; service is complete after due diligence
• D. Service by posting on courthouse doors

Answer: (C)

Notice by publication is used when the defendant cannot be located. In this method, you publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction where the case is filed, after you’ve shown due diligence to locate the defendant (checking last known addresses, contacting relatives or associates, etc.). The notice typically names the court and case, the parties, and explains the action, plus the deadline to respond. The publication runs for a required period, and you file an affidavit of publication with the court to prove it was carried out. Once publication is made and the due diligence steps are documented, service is considered complete, giving the case front-end notice despite the inability to physically hand papers to the defendant. This approach is a constitutional and procedural way to provide notice when personal service isn’t feasible.