What does the term "service by publication" mean?

Service by publication is a legal procedure used when a party cannot be located to personally receive service of legal documents. This method allows a plaintiff to notify a defendant of pending legal actions through publication in a newspaper or other designated publication. This is often used in situations where the defendant has an unknown address or is purposely evading service. The publication serves as a legally recognized method of informing the defendant that they are being sued and provides them with the opportunity to respond.

This approach is necessary because the legal system requires that all parties be given notice of legal proceedings so that they can defend their interests, even if they are difficult to find. In essence, service by publication seeks to ensure that due process is upheld in scenarios where traditional methods of service are not viable.