Q: How to serve unreachable contractor in small claims court?

A: Ultimately, a judge could allow service by publication. As a practical matter, you should exhaust all resources to locate and personally serve them. A default judgment isn't worth much if you can't find them. If you do eventually find them, they will undoubtedly try to set the default judgment aside.

A: In California, you have several valid options for serving an unreachable contractor in small claims court. The most common method is to hire a registered process server who can track down and personally deliver the court documents to the defendant.

If the contractor is truly difficult to locate, you can request permission from the court for "substitute service." This allows you to serve the documents by leaving them with someone over 18 at the contractor's usual residence or workplace, followed by mailing a copy to their last known address. You'll need to show the court that you've made multiple attempts at personal service before requesting this option.

As a last resort, you might qualify for "service by publication," where the court papers are published in a newspaper. You'll need to prove to the judge that you've exhausted other methods and can't find the contractor despite reasonable efforts. Keep detailed records of all your attempts to serve the contractor, including dates, times, and locations of attempted service, as you may need to present this information to the court.