The service may be personal, by delivery to the party or attorney on whom the service is required to be made, or it may be as follows:
§ 1011.Manner of Service
Title 14. Of Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 5. Notices, and Filing and Service of Papers · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1011 sets the manner of personal-style service on attorneys and parties who aren't served electronically, letting service on an attorney be left at the attorney's office or, if that fails, at the attorney's residence or by mail, and letting service on a party be left at the party's residence with someone eighteen or older.
Full Text of § 1011
(a) If upon an attorney, service may be made at the attorney's office, by leaving the notice or other papers in an envelope or package clearly labeled to identify the attorney being served, with a receptionist or with a person having charge thereof. If there is no person in the office with whom the notice or papers may be left for purposes of this subdivision at the time service is to be effected, service may be made by leaving them between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., in a conspicuous place in the office, or, if the attorney's office is not open so as to admit of that service, then service may be made by leaving the notice or papers at the attorney's residence, with some person of not less than 18 years of age, if the attorney's residence is in the same county with his or her office, and, if the attorney's residence is not known or is not in the same county with his or her office, or, being in the same county, it is not open, or a person 18 years of age or older cannot be found at the attorney's residence, then service may be made by putting the notice or papers, enclosed in a sealed envelope, into the post office or a mail box, subpost office, substation, or mail chute or other like facility regularly maintained by the Government of the United States directed to the attorney at his or her office, if known, and otherwise to the attorney's residence, if known. If neither the attorney's office nor residence is known, service may be made by delivering the notice or papers to the address of the attorney or party of record as designated on the court papers, or by delivering the notice or papers to the clerk of the court, for the attorney.
(b) If upon a party, service shall be made in the manner specifically provided in particular cases, or, if no specific provision is made, service may be made by leaving the notice or other paper at the party's residence with some person 18 years of age or older.
(1) Any attempt of service upon a party at the party's residence shall be made between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
(2) If, at the time of service, as provided in paragraph (1), a person 18 years of age or older cannot be found at the party's residence, the notice or papers may be served by mail.
(3) If the party's residence is not known, any attempt of service pursuant to this subdivision may be made by delivering the notice or papers to the clerk of the court, for that party.
Plain-English Summary
Once § 1010 says a notice or paper must be served, § 1011 supplies the mechanics for delivering it by hand, in the absence of electronic service under § 1010.6. Service on an attorney can be made at the attorney's office by leaving the papers, clearly labeled, with a receptionist or whoever's in charge; if nobody's there to receive it, the papers can be left in a conspicuous place in the office during business hours, or, if the office is closed, at the attorney's residence with someone eighteen or older. If neither address is known, or those options don't pan out, service can fall back to mailing the papers to whichever address is known, or delivering them to the clerk of the court for the attorney.
Service on a party who isn't represented follows a parallel but distinct path: the papers can be left at the party's residence with someone eighteen or older, attempted only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. If nobody suitable is found there, service can switch to mail; if the residence isn't known at all, the papers can go to the clerk of the court for that party.
Subdivision (c) folds in the electronic option by cross-reference: if service is made electronically, it has to follow § 1010.6 and the electronic-service rules in the California Rules of Court, rather than this section's physical-delivery mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can papers be served on an attorney under § 1011?
By leaving them at the attorney's office with a receptionist or person in charge, or in a conspicuous place if the office is unattended, falling back to the attorney's residence, mail, or the court clerk if the office isn't available or known.
What are the time limits for serving a party at their residence?
Any attempt to serve a party at the party's residence must be made between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
What happens if no one 18 or older can be found at the party's residence?
The papers may instead be served by mail.
How does electronic service fit into this section?
Section 1011(c) says electronic service must follow § 1010.6 and the applicable California Rules of Court, rather than the personal-delivery methods described elsewhere in this section.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2018 ch 212 (AB 2286),s 1, eff. 1/1/2019. Amended by Stats 2017 ch 319 (AB 976),s 3, eff. 1/1/2018. Amended by Stats 2007 ch 263 (AB 310),s 11, eff. 1/1/2008.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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