The Massachusetts Affidavit in support of Motion for Alternate Service is a document that is used in the state of Massachusetts when a plaintiff in a civil legal case is unable to effectuate service of process on a defendant through the normal methods. This affidavit is used to provide evidence that the plaintiff attempted to locate and notify the defendant of the pending legal action, and that the normal methods of service of process were unsuccessful. This affidavit is a sworn statement that must be made by the plaintiff and filed with the court, typically with a motion for alternate service. There are two types of Massachusetts Affidavit in support of Motion for Alternate Service: an affidavit for service by publication and an affidavit for service by mail. An affidavit for service by publication is used when the plaintiff has exhausted all other means of locating the defendant. The affidavit is used to declare that the plaintiff has made a good-faith effort to locate the defendant and that service of process can be accomplished by publishing a notice in a newspaper. An affidavit for service by mail is used when the plaintiff knows the defendant’s address but is unable to effectuate service of process through the normal methods. The affidavit is used to declare that the plaintiff has attempted to notify the defendant of the pending legal action by sending the legal documents to the defendant’s address via mail.