§ 417.20.Proof Summons Served On Person Outside State

Title 5. Jurisdiction and Service of Process · Chapter 4. Service of Summons · Article 5. Proof of Service · Last amended 1972 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 417.20 specifies how to prove that a summons was validly served on a person located outside California, including the return-receipt requirement for service by mail and the affidavit requirement for service by posting.

Full Text of § 417.20

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Proof that a summons was served on a person outside this state shall be made:

(a) If served in a manner specified in a statute of this state, as prescribed by Section 417.10, and if service is made by mail pursuant to Section 415.40, proof of service shall include evidence satisfactory to the court establishing actual delivery to the person to be served, by a signed return receipt or other evidence;

(b) In the manner prescribed by the court order pursuant to which the service is made;

(c) Subject to any additional requirements that may be imposed by the court in which the action is pending, in the manner prescribed by the law of the place where the person is served for proof of service in an action in its courts of general jurisdiction; or

(d) By the written admission of the party.

(e) If served by posting pursuant to Section 415.45, by the affidavit of the person who posted the premises, showing the time and place of posting, and an affidavit showing the time and place copies of the summons and of the complaint were mailed to the party to be served, if in fact mailed.

Plain-English Summary

Serving someone who is outside California requires its own proof-of-service showing. Section 417.20 lists the ways to establish that out-of-state (or out-of-country) service was properly completed: through evidence like a signed return receipt when service was made by mail under § 415.40, in whatever manner a court order authorizing the service specified, under the proof-of-service rules of the place where the person was served, or through the served party’s own written admission that service occurred.

Subdivision (e) covers service by posting under § 415.45 specifically, requiring an affidavit from the person who posted the premises stating when and where the posting happened, plus an affidavit confirming when and where copies were mailed to the party, if mailing in fact occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you prove someone outside California was properly served?

Section 417.20 lists several acceptable ways, including a signed return receipt for mail service, compliance with a court order’s specified method, compliance with the proof-of-service rules of the place where service occurred, or the served party’s own written admission.

Does proof of service by posting work the same way outside California?

Section 417.20(e) has its own rule for posting under § 415.45: an affidavit from the person who posted the premises stating when and where, plus proof of when and where copies were mailed to the party, if mailing took place.

Amendment History

Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 719.

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

Also known as: proof of service out of state california