by substitute service, you hire someone to serve the paper:
1. mail a copy of document to be served by certified mail (select certified mail without return, as certified mail with return will be refused by the tenant). You need to have the receipt of certified mail.
2. Try to deliver it three times during different days and different time of the day during reasonable intervals of the day. For example, you can not deliver 3 times in the same day, or same time on different days; neither can you deliver it too early in the morning or too late in the evening. Record the time of each try.
3. At the last trial, attach the document to the front door of the address served.
You then can file with the court the affidavit of service as substitute service. You may have to get it notarized.
DO NOT SERVE YOURSELF.
The above are the basic element of a proper substitute service, but local laws may be different.
