What is substituted service?

What is substituted service?

• A. Service by mail with return receipt only.
• B. Serving the attorney of record only.
• C. Posting the notice in a public place.
• D. Delivering the document to a person of suitable age at the defendant's dwelling or usual place of abode when personal service is not possible.

Answer: (D)

Substituted service is used when you can’t personally hand the papers to the defendant. After trying to effect personal service, a copy is given to a person of suitable age at the defendant’s dwelling or usual place of abode, with the understanding that this person will deliver it to the defendant. This method ensures notice through a responsible adult at the defendant’s home when direct delivery isn’t possible. The described scenario matches this approach exactly. The other methods are different: mailing with a return receipt is a mail service method, serving the attorney of record is service on counsel, and posting in a public place is a form of posting/publication.

Substituted service is used when you can’t personally hand the papers to the defendant. After trying to effect personal service, a copy is given to a person of suitable age at the defendant’s dwelling or usual place of abode, with the understanding that this person will deliver it to the defendant. This method ensures notice through a responsible adult at the defendant’s home when direct delivery isn’t possible. The described scenario matches this approach exactly.

The other methods are different: mailing with a return receipt is a mail service method, serving the attorney of record is service on counsel, and posting in a public place is a form of posting/publication.