In "service by mail," someone – NOT a party to the case – must mail the documents to the other party.

 

For “service by mail”: The server mails the papers to the party being served. If the party being served is a person, the papers can be mailed to his or her home or mailing address. If it is a business, the papers must be mailed to the owner(s) at the business’s main office. If the business has an agent for service, the papers should be mailed to the agent for service.  Learn more about serving a business.

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The server then fills out a Proof of Service, detailing to whom the papers were mailed, to what address, when, how (by first-class mail), and where they were mailed from. The server signs the Proof of Service and returns it to you to file in court.

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Service by mail is complete 5 days after the papers are mailed.

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Mail service is easy but not very reliable because the court cannot know for sure that someone received the paperwork.