Washington Summons Served by Publication is a type of service used in Washington courts for those who cannot be found or served personally with a summons. It is a legal process in which the court publishes notice of the lawsuit in a newspaper with general circulation, and the defendant is considered to have received notice of the lawsuit. This type of service is used when the defendant is out of state, or if their whereabouts are unknown. It is also used when the plaintiff cannot locate the defendant and personal service cannot be completed. There are two types of Washington Summons Served by Publication: regular service and special service. Regular service is done in the county where the lawsuit is filed, and the notice must be published for four consecutive weeks. Special service is done in a county where the defendant is known to reside, and the notice must be published for three consecutive weeks. In both cases, the court must receive an affidavit from the publisher confirming that the notice was published as required.