Minnesota Affidavit For Service By Publication Rule 4.04 (a)(2,4,5) is a form used in Minnesota courts for service of process when the defendant is not located and cannot be served by ordinary means. The affidavit is required to be completed and filed with the court prior to the publication of notice of the action in the newspaper. The affidavit must include (2) a statement that the plaintiff has used due diligence to locate the defendant, (4) the date on which the notice was published, and (5) an affidavit of the publisher or printer attesting to the publication of the notice. There are two types of Minnesota Affidavit For Service By Publication Rule 4.04 (a)(2,4,5): a Standard Affidavit and an Affidavit of Compliance. The Standard Affidavit is used when the plaintiff has not been able to determine the defendant’s location and is seeking to serve the defendant through legal notice in a newspaper. The Affidavit of Compliance is used when the plaintiff has been able to locate the defendant but is unable to personally serve the defendant, and is seeking to serve the defendant by publication.