How do I locate a defendant in a small claims court case?

It is important to locate a defendant in a small claims court case in order to pursue legal action. In New York, there are a few ways to go about this. First, the Plaintiff can file a Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) to obtain a court appearance date and an order to serve the defendant with the summons and complaint. The summons is a document that notifies the defendant of the legal action, and it must be personally served to the defendant. Additionally, the Plaintiff can hire a professional process server to deliver the summons. The second option is to submit a search request to the County Clerk’s Office. By submitting a written request with the defendant’s name and last known address, the County Clerk’s Office can research the defendant’s name and address and send the summons to them. In extreme cases, the Plaintiff may engage in alternative service that involves posting the summons in a public place or sending the summons via certified mail. To do this, the Plaintiff must receive a court order first. Overall, locating a defendant in a small claims court case in New York requires a few steps, including filing an RJI, searching the County Clerk’s Office, or obtaining an order for alternative service. All of these steps are necessary to pursue legal action against the defendant and ensure justice is served.

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