Skip to main content

Service of Process in New Jersey: Court Allowed Service of Process by Facebook.

In the recent case of  K.I.A.  v. J.L. Docket No. C-157-15 (Ch. Div., April 11, 2016), the court held that when service of process cannot be done by traditional means the rules of civil procedure allow an alternate form of service, like Facebook.  Rule 4:4-4(b)(3) permits a court to enter an order permitting service by means other than those provided by rule “consistent with due process.”
This is the case of an adoptive parents filed a cause of action against the defendant to enjoin him from contacting their adoptive son, remove information about their son from social media and to contact their family. Defendant an out of State individual contacted plaintiffs’ child through Facebook, disclosed that he was the biological father and contacted the family. In their attempt to serve the summons and complaint to the defendant, plaintiffs’ made reasonable, good-faith attempt to effectuate personal service but were unsuccessful.  The plaintiffs made a request for the court to order substituted service of process via Facebook which was granted.
The court analyzed three factors to establish that service by Facebook is proper:
1)      Can the defendant be served by conventional means, those specifically permitted by court rule?
2)      Is the relief sought appropriate for service by publication?
3)      Will service by Facebook still protect defendant's due process rights? He has demonstrated his own Facebook
In issuing their decision, the court was satisfied that after diligent efforts, personal service could not be accomplished. Service by publication would not be efficient given the nature of the relief sought, an injunction to stop the defendant from contacting plaintiffs’ son. The court was further satisfied that the Facebook account of defendant was his as it was that account that defendant employed to contact plaintiffs' son and his due process were satisfied. Finally, defendant acknowledged receipt of the summons and complaint and therefore service was successful.

For more information about Service of Process matters in New Jersey please contact our office at (201) 880-5563, for an appointment with one of our attorneys.

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are of general nature and not intended to be a substitute for legal advice or the formation of a lawyer-client relationship. In order to be properly represented, please contact your local professional. In addition, the information given on this website has been composed by a New Jersey attorney practicing exclusively in New Jersey. None of the information contained herein should be deemed to apply in other states, nor should this website be construed as an attempt by the author to practice law in any state other than New Jersey.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

When do I need to Probate A Will in New Jersey?

PROBATE AND WILLS IN NEW JERSEY As Estate Planning Attorneys in New Jersey we often get asks whether probate is necessary if the decedent has a Will.  To better answer this question we need to know what is probate.  Probate is the process which permits an executor to transfer assets as directed by a decedent in their Last Will & Testament to the beneficiaries in accordance to the decedent's Will.  In order to make a determination of which decedent's assets must go through probate, we need to determine the tittle in which the asset is held. Assets held in the name of the decedent alone such as real estate, personal property and monies owed to the testator will generate be transferred through probate.  There is however a caveat in this situation as to some financial firms provide beneficiary designation forms which may transfer these accounts without probate. Assets held by the testator and another person jointly, with a right of survivorship, are said to be held as pas

Establishing a Domestic Partnership in New Jersey

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY For unmarried couples, it is important to have proper estate planning documents to have legal standing to each other. The Domestic Partnership Act established domestic partnerships for same sex and opposite sex (age 62 and older) nonrelated partners.  Couples 62 years an older that want to establish a Domestic partnership need to establish the following criteria: ·          Share a common residence in New Jersey or in any other jurisdiction provided that at least one of the applicants is a member of a New Jersey State-administered retirement system; ·          Both persons are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare as evidenced by joint financial arrangements or joint ownership of real or personal property; ·          Both persons agree to be jointly responsible for each other’s basic living expenses during the domestic partnership; ·           Neither applicant is in a marriage or civil union recognized by New Jersey law or a m

Planning for Children in Case of Deportation

The current immigration climate is tense. Undocumented people fear not only for deportation but also for the care and wellbeing of their children.  It is important that people that are undocumented make plans in the event that this situation takes place. Among the first things to be planned is the provision of care and supervision of minor children while the parents are in the process of the deportation. It is important to keep all detail information of the child. If the child is an American Citizen, having their passports updated should be a priority. In addition, it is often suggested to create a power of attorney limited to the event of deportation. In this power of attorney, the parents should assign a guardian to take care of the child and allow permission to travel with the guardian. The undocumented person should also consider leaving financial provisions for the care of the child. It is often recommended that the undocumented person carries information of their attorney