Under what condition can civil process be served via certified mail?

Civil process can be served via certified mail when personal service is impractical and permitted. This means that if it's not feasible to hand-deliver the legal documents to the defendant—perhaps due to the defendant's unavailability, geographical distance, or other reasonable obstacles—then certified mail serves as an alternative method. The use of certified mail ensures that there is proof of sending and receiving the documents, which is crucial in legal contexts to establish that the defendant has been informed of the proceedings against them.

The legality of using certified mail for service depends on the applicable rules of civil procedure, which allow for this method under specific circumstances. Courts recognize this approach as a way to uphold the due process requirement that parties must be notified of legal actions that affect their rights.