How to serve someone who is avoiding service in Washington

Someone who knows papers are coming can make themselves hard to find. They stop answering the door, change their routine or have someone else say they moved. Evasion is common in civil matters. It does not make service impossible, but it takes more planning than a single daytime knock.

What usually works

• Attempts at different times of day, including early mornings, evenings and weekends where appropriate
• Checking whether the person still lives at the address before spending more trips on it
• Trying a known workplace, gym, school pickup or other regular location
• A short stakeout to catch the person coming or going, when the matter justifies it
• Substitute service at the person's usual abode under RCW 4.28.080, by leaving the papers with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives there

When the job changes

If repeated attempts point to the person no longer living at the address, the job becomes a locate problem as much as a service problem. At that point a skip trace usually makes more sense than more trips to the same door.

If nothing works

Every attempt we make is logged with the date, time, location and what we saw. If service cannot be completed, that record can support a motion for alternative service, such as service by mail under CR 4(d)(4) or by publication under RCW 4.28.100. Whether to ask for that is a decision for you or your attorney.

This guide is general information. It is not legal advice and does not replace instructions from the court or your attorney.