What is service by publication and in what situation is it used?

• A. By posting notices at courthouse
• B. By personal delivery
• C. Publishing the summons in a newspaper when the defendant cannot be located after due diligence.
• D. By service by mail

Answer: (C)

Service by publication is a method to give notice of a lawsuit when the defendant cannot be located enough to be served personally. It works by printing the summons in a newspaper or other publication that has general circulation in the area where the defendant is believed to reside. This public notice satisfies due process by ensuring the possibility of actual knowledge, even though the notice isn’t delivered directly to the person.

This approach is used after reasonable, diligent efforts to locate the defendant have failed—such as checking last known addresses, contacting employers, searching public records, and other inquiries. It’s essentially a last-resort method when personal delivery isn’t feasible because the defendant’s whereabouts are unknown, the person has moved away, or they are a nonresident. The publication typically runs for a set period and may be supplemented by mailed notice if feasible.