What does 'reasonable diligence' require in attempting service?

• A. A genuine, thorough effort to locate and serve the defendant using appropriate methods, before resorting to substitutes or publication.
• B. At least one attempt by mail.
• C. Service within 24 hours of filing.
• D. Getting a court order for service.

Answer: (A)

Reasonable diligence means you must make a genuine, thorough effort to locate and personally serve the defendant using the proper methods before turning to substitutes or publication. This involves pursuing all the standard, authorized avenues—checking the last known address, attempting service at the residence or workplace, and using any available contacts—until those ordinary methods are exhausted. Only after that should you turn to substitute service or publication if the rules permit it. The other options don’t fit because a single mail attempt isn’t enough to demonstrate diligence, rapid service after filing isn’t what diligence requires, and obtaining a court order is a separate procedural step rather than the diligence standard itself.