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FA-4184V

Declaration of Efforts to Serve Respondent (Service by Publication)

Wisconsin · Wisconsin Court System · Effective September 12, 2024

This form is used to show the court that the person filing it tried hard to find and serve another person, and it asks the court for permission to serve the papers by publishing a notice.

The court describes it as: To document the efforts that the petitioner has made to serve the respondent and to justify performing service by publication. Voluntary form.

Open the official PDFfrom Wisconsin Court System

Where this fits in a case

Hearing

Stage: Hearing

This form is used when a person needs to prove they tried to serve someone else but could not, which might allow them to ask the court to allow service by publication.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Official instructions

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

Common questions

Who fills out this form?
The petitioner fills out this form. It is a voluntary form.
Does this form need a Notary Public?
No, you do not have to take the document to a Notary Public if you provide an unsworn declaration.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect September 12, 2024.

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