In which situation would service by publication be appropriate?

Service by publication is typically utilized when a defendant cannot be located despite reasonable efforts to find them. This method is a way to provide notice of legal proceedings when traditional means of service—such as personal delivery or mailing—have failed. The law generally requires that the plaintiff demonstrate they have made diligent efforts to locate the defendant, which may include searching known addresses, contacting known associates, or utilizing public records. If those efforts do not yield results, service by publication allows the court to proceed while ensuring that the defendant is made aware of the action through publication in a designated newspaper or legal journal.

In other situations, such as when a defendant is out of the country or simply refuses to answer, service by publication is not the appropriate remedy. Additionally, if the plaintiff is in another jurisdiction, that typically does not directly lead to the use of publication as a method of service; jurisdictional issues would usually pertain to interstate service laws rather than a need for publication.