What term describes serving documents to a person authorized by law to receive service when the named recipient cannot be reached?

• A. Personal service
• B. Authorized substitute service
• C. Tolling service
• D. Substitute delivery

Answer: (B)

When someone can’t be reached to receive documents, the notice can still be delivered by handing them to a person who is legally authorized to receive service on that person’s behalf. That specific method is known as authorized substitute service. It preserves due process by ensuring someone legally allowed to accept service for the recipient actually receives the notice, even though the named individual isn’t available for personal service.

This differs from personal service, which requires directly handing the papers to the named recipient; that isn’t possible here because the recipient can’t be reached. Tolling service isn’t a recognized method of delivering process in this context, as it relates to pausing statutes of limitations rather than delivering documents. Substitute delivery is a related idea, but the term used for serving to an authorized person is authorized substitute service.