Service by publication is used when a party cannot be served by personal delivery, registered/certified mail, or designated delivery service.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for corporations
• D. Only in domestic cases

Answer: (A)

In North Carolina, service by publication is a remedy used when you cannot reach the defendant through the usual means of service—personal delivery, or sending the summons by registered/certified mail or a designated delivery service. It acts as a last resort: after you’ve shown due diligence to locate and serve the person by standard methods, you may seek court authorization to publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the proper jurisdiction. The publication serves as constructive notice to someone whose location is unknown or difficult to locate, and it is typically required for a specified period before you can proceed with further steps. Because its purpose is to provide notice when direct methods fail, the statement that service by publication is used when those other methods cannot be used is true.