How to Serve Someone Court Papers Without an Address

Not having an address does not end a case, but it changes the steps. In California the court expects a real search first, and the methods for a person who cannot be found need a court order. Other states have their own rules; this article covers California.

Search first, and write it down

The California courts' self-help guide, Look for someone you need to serve, suggests checking with family, friends and former co-workers, online searches, social media, county property records and jail inmate locators. It says to write down what was tried, the date and the result, so it can be shown to the judge. That record is what the alternatives below are built on. A skip trace can also find a current address before you serve.

Under section 415.50(e), a court may not require a search of databases that registered process servers are barred from using for home addresses, such as voter registration rolls and Department of Motor Vehicles records, as a condition of showing reasonable diligence.

A mailing address or a private mailbox

For a business whose physical address is unknown, the papers may be left at its usual mailing address (other than a U.S. Postal Service post office box) with the person apparently in charge, who must be at least 18 and told what the papers are, followed by mailing (section 415.20(a)).
If the only address reasonably known for the person is a private mailbox at a commercial mail receiving agency, service may be made on the first attempt by leaving the papers with that agency in the manner Business and Professions Code section 17538.5(d) describes (section 415.20(c)).

Service by publication

A court may order service by publication if a sworn statement shows the person cannot be served in another way with reasonable diligence, and either a cause of action exists against the person or the person claims an interest in California property involved in the case (section 415.50(a)). The court names the newspaper most likely to give the person actual notice. If the address is found before publication ends, a copy of the summons, complaint and publication order must be mailed to the person (section 415.50(b)). Unless a statute or the court says otherwise, publication runs once a week for four successive weeks (Government Code section 6064).

Court-ordered service, including email

Since January 1, 2026, if a plaintiff has used reasonable diligence and still cannot serve by the methods the law lists, the court may, on motion, order service in a manner reasonably calculated to give actual notice, including email or other electronic technology (section 413.30). The motion must set out every attempt by each method at every address or location where the defendant is likely to be found.

Evictions: posting

In an unlawful detainer case, a court may order the summons posted on the property, with a copy mailed by certified mail to the last known address, if the person cannot be served with reasonable diligence any other way except publication. Service by posting is complete on the 10th day after posting and mailing (section 415.45).

Other states

Publication, posting and court-ordered methods vary by state. See process serving by state.

Legal Hub Group arranges process serving for law firms in every state, and every attempt is logged from the field, which is the record a diligence showing needs. Representing yourself? Our sister company Famous Legal Services serves papers for individuals.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Questions

Can you serve someone by publishing a notice in the newspaper in California?

Only with a court order based on a sworn statement that the person cannot be served another way with reasonable diligence (Code of Civil Procedure section 415.50). The court picks the newspaper most likely to give actual notice, and publication usually runs once a week for four weeks (Government Code section 6064).

Can a California court allow service by email?

Since January 1, 2026, a court may, on motion, order service in a manner reasonably calculated to give actual notice, including email or other electronic technology, after reasonable diligence with the listed methods fails (section 413.30). The plaintiff must set out every attempt by each method at every likely address.

What if the only address is a private mailbox?

If the only address reasonably known is a private mailbox at a commercial mail receiving agency, section 415.20(c) allows service on the first attempt by leaving the papers with that agency in the manner Business and Professions Code section 17538.5(d) describes.