Personal service; procedure

(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a party in interest who is a resident of this state is entitled to personal service of any petition and citation for proceedings that are subject to the provisions of this chapter. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, personal service shall be made by delivery of a copy of the petition and citation by the sheriff or some other lawful officer at least ten days before the hearing except that, if waived in writing, the ten-day provision shall not apply. An entry of service shall be made on the original and the copy for the party served. (c) A party who is in the military service may be served by any commissioned officer who shall file with the court a certificate stating that copies of the petition and citation were served in person. (d) Individuals who are not sui juris shall be served as provided in this chapter or as provided in Code Section 15-9-17. (e) When personal service is required by this Code section, unless otherwise directed by the court, service may be made by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery if the petitioner so requests in the petition. The court shall cause a copy of the petition and the citation to be sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery with return receipt requested and with delivery restricted to addressee only. If the return receipt is not signed by the addressee, dated at least ten days before the date specified in the 750 29-9-6 citation, and received by the court before the date specified in the citation for the filing of objections, service shall be made as otherwise required by this Code section. (Code 1981, § 29-9-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 161, § 1.) 29-9-5. Service upon current residence addresses; service by publication. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law or directed by the probate judge pursuant to Code Section 29-9-6, the provisions of this Code section shall apply in cases when a person to be served has a known current residence address outside this state or whose current address is unknown. (b) Unless all persons have known current residence addresses, the court shall order service to be perfected by publication of the citation in the newspaper in which the sheriff’s advertisements are published in the county in which the petition is filed. The citation shall be published once a week for four weeks prior to the date on which objections must be filed. The records of the court shall show the persons notified and the character of the notice given. The published citation shall be directed to the person to be served. (c) If the current residence address of a person is known, service shall be made by mailing by first-class mail a copy of the petition and the citation. (d) When service by publication is ordered pursuant to this Code section, compliance with the provisions of this Code section relating to a person to be notified who is known but whose current residence address is unknown shall be equivalent to personal service of a copy of the petition and citation when the fact appears in the records of the court showing the persons notified and the character of the notice given. In the case of a known person whose current residence address is unknown, that person’s name shall appear in the records of the court, and the records shall show service by publication as to that person in compliance with this Code section. In any case in which service by publication is granted, one order for publication shall be sufficient and the published citation shall be directed as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section. (Code 1981, § 29-9-5, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 161, § 1.) 29-9-6. Service upon conservator or guardian.