by: KATIE MARASCO, ESQ.
A Judge in New Zealand recently gave the ok for plaintiff’s side to serve defendant via Facebook. Plaintiff’s attorneys demonstrated that the whereabouts of Defendant could not be specifically pinpointed, however, they were aware that Defendant had a Facebook page. The attorney didn’t take full credit for the technologically advanced idea. He said he was alerted to the idea when he heard an Australian Judge allowed a couple to be notified that their house was being foreclosed on after they defaulted on a loan.
Methods of service of process here in the United States vary from state to state. Depending on the type of case, and of course the state, sometimes personal service is required. Meaning a person must have process served directly to them, in person. Other times service can be made in the newspaper or by mail. As far as I have been able to figure out Facebook is not an approved form of service of process anywhere in the United States. But I can imagine the concept isn’t so farfetched. Might make some people consider deleting their social networking page.
For more information on how to serve process, or how process may be served on you, visit LawInfo to find an attorney in your area.
