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DV-205-INFOOptional

What if the Person I Want Protection From is Avoiding (Evading) Service? (Domestic Violence Prevention)

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2020

This form explains options for serving legal papers when the person you need protection from is avoiding or evading service. It describes different ways a judge might allow service, such as posting papers in a courthouse or mailing them.

The court describes it as: Explains what you can do if the other side is avoiding "personal service."

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Motions

Stage: Motions

This form is used when a person has tried multiple times to personally serve someone with papers related to a domestic violence restraining order and believes the person is avoiding service.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

What is the main purpose of this form?
This form explains what options are available if the person you want protection from is avoiding or evading service with legal papers.
Do I have to personally serve the papers?
Before a judge can grant a restraining order, the person you want the order against usually must know about the request, which often requires personal service.
If I can't serve them personally, what are my options?
A judge might allow alternative service, which could include posting papers in a courthouse or publishing them in a newspaper.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2020.

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