(a) In lieu of personal delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint to the person to be served as specified in Section 416.10, 416.20, 416.30, 416.40, or 416.50, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint during usual office hours in the person's office or, if no physical address is known, at the person's usual mailing address, other than a United States Postal Service post office box, with the person who is apparently in charge thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and complaint by first-class mail, postage prepaid to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were left. When service is effected by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at a mailing address, it shall be left with a person at least 18 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof. Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after the mailing.
§ 415.20.Leaving Copy of Summons and Complaint At Office Or At Usual Mailing Address and Mailing Copy of Summons and Compliant to Person to Be Served
Title 5. Jurisdiction and Service of Process · Chapter 4. Service of Summons · Article 3. Manner of Service of Summons · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 28, 2026
This section prints two full, separately-dated versions in the official compilation (a pending-amendment straddle); both are shown below.
In one sentenceSection 415.20 authorizes substituted service — leaving the summons and complaint with someone at an entity’s office or an individual’s home or workplace, followed by mailing a copy — with entity substituted service available in lieu of personal delivery and individual substituted service available only after reasonable diligence to personally deliver has failed.
Full Text of § 415.20
§ 415.20. Leaving Copy of Summons and Complaint At Office Or At Usual Mailing Address and Mailing Copy of Summons and Compliant to Person to Be Served — Effective Until 1/1/2027
(b) If a copy of the summons and complaint cannot with reasonable diligence be personally delivered to the person to be served, as specified in Section 416.60, 416.70, 416.80, or 416.90, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the person's dwelling house, usual place of abode, usual place of business, or usual mailing address other than a United States Postal Service post office box, in the presence of a competent member of the household or a person apparently in charge of their office, place of business, or usual mailing address other than a United States Postal Service post office box, at least 18 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and of the complaint by first-class mail, postage prepaid to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were left. Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after the mailing.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if the only address reasonably known for the person to be served is a private mailbox obtained through a commercial mail receiving agency, service of process may be effected on the first delivery attempt by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint with the commercial mail receiving agency in the manner described in subdivision (d) of Section 17538.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
§ 415.20. Leaving Copy of Summons and Complaint At Office Or At Usual Mailing Address and Mailing Copy of Summons and Compliant to Person to Be Served — Operative 1/1/2027
(a) In lieu of personal delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint to the person to be served as specified in Section 416.10, 416.20, 416.30, 416.40, or 416.50, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint during usual office hours in the person's office or, if no physical address is known, at the person's usual mailing address, other than a United States Postal Service post office box, with the person who is apparently in charge thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and complaint by United States Postal Service first-class mail, Priority Mail with tracking, or Certified Mail with return receipt requested, with postage prepaid, to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were left. When service is effected by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at a mailing address, it shall be left with a person at least 18 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof. Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after the mailing.
(1) If a copy of the summons and complaint cannot with reasonable diligence be personally delivered to the person to be served, as specified in Section 416.60, 416.70, 416.80, or 416.90, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the person's dwelling house, usual place of abode, usual place of business, or usual mailing address other than a United States Postal Service post office box, in the presence of a competent member of the household or a person apparently in charge of their office, place of business, or usual mailing address other than a United States Postal Service post office box, at least 18 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and of the complaint by United States Postal Service first- class mail, Priority Mail with tracking, or Certified Mail with return receipt requested, with postage prepaid, to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were left. Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after the mailing.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, a party shows reasonable diligence by attempting personal delivery of the summons and complaint, in good faith, on at least three occasions on three different days at three different times.
(3) In an action to collect "consumer debt," as defined in Section 1788.2 of the Civil Code, at least one of the service attempts shall be made at the dwelling place or usual place of abode of the person to be served, provided that the dwelling place or usual place of abode is known or could be determined with reasonable effort.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if the only address reasonably known for the person to be served is a private mailbox obtained through a commercial mail receiving agency, service of process may be effected on the first delivery attempt by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint with the commercial mail receiving agency in the manner described in subdivision (d) of Section 17538.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
(d) This section does not affect the provisions of Section 6206 of the Government Code.
(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.
Plain-English Summary
Section 415.20 lets service happen without handing the papers directly to the defendant, but it draws a careful line between two situations. Subdivision (a) covers the entities named in §§ 416.10, 416.20, 416.30, 416.40, and 416.50 — corporations, forfeited or dissolved corporations, joint stock companies, unincorporated associations, and public entities. For these, in lieu of personal delivery, a summons may be served by leaving a copy during usual office hours at the entity’s office (or, if no physical address is known, at its usual mailing address other than a post office box) with the person apparently in charge, at least 18 years old and informed of the contents, and then mailing a copy by first-class mail to that same place. Service in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after mailing. Notably, subdivision (a) does not require a prior failed attempt at personal delivery — it is available as an alternative from the start.
Subdivision (b) covers individuals named in §§ 416.60, 416.70, 416.80, and 416.90 — minors, persons with a guardian or conservator, and others not otherwise specified. Here the rule is stricter: substituted service is available only if a copy cannot with reasonable diligence be personally delivered to the person. When that showing is made, service may be left at the person’s dwelling, usual place of abode, usual place of business, or usual mailing address other than a post office box, with a competent member of the household or a person apparently in charge, at least 18 years old and informed of the contents, followed by first-class mail to the same place. This too is deemed complete on the 10th day after mailing.
Subdivision (c) addresses a narrower case: if the only reasonably known address is a private mailbox at a commercial mail receiving agency, service may be made there on the first delivery attempt, following the procedure in Business and Professions Code § 17538.5(d). This version of the section remains in effect only until January 1, 2027, when it is scheduled to be repealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is substituted service under California law?
Section 415.20 allows service by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint with a qualifying person at a specified location, followed by mailing a copy to that same place, rather than delivering it directly to the person being served.
Do I have to try personal service first before using substituted service on a corporation?
No, not under subdivision (a). For entities covered by §§ 416.10 through 416.50, subdivision (a) makes leaving a copy at the office, followed by mailing, available in lieu of personal delivery, without requiring a prior failed attempt.
Do I have to try personal service first before using substituted service on an individual?
Yes. Subdivision (b), which covers individuals under §§ 416.60, 416.70, 416.80, and 416.90, applies only if a copy cannot with reasonable diligence be personally delivered to that person.
When is substituted service under § 415.20 considered complete?
Both subdivisions (a) and (b) deem service complete on the 10th day after the copy is mailed to the address where the first copy was left, not on the day the copy was left.
Is § 415.20 still in effect?
As currently written, yes — but the section states it remains in effect only until January 1, 2027, and is repealed as of that date, so this version should be checked against any successor provision after that date.
Amendment History
Effective Until 1/1/2027
Amended by Stats 2025 ch 563 (AB 747),s 4, eff. 1/1/2026. Amended by Stats 2017 ch 129 (AB 1093),s 1, eff. 1/1/2018. Amended by Stats 2003 ch 128 (AB 418),s 1, eff. 1/1/2004.
Operative 1/1/2027
Added by Stats 2025 ch 563 (AB 747),s 5, eff. 1/1/2026.
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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