§48-27-311 Service of process. - West Virginia Statutes

§48-27-311. Service of process.
A protective order may be served on the respondent by means of a Class I legal advertisement published notice, with the publication area being the county in which the respondent resides, published in accordance with the provisions of section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code if: (1) The petitioner files an affidavit with the court stating that an attempt at personal service pursuant to Rule 4 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure has been unsuccessful or evidence is adduced at the hearing for the protective order that the respondent has left the state of West Virginia; and (2) a copy of the order is mailed by certified or registered mail to the respondent at the respondent's last known residence and returned undelivered.

Any protective order issued by the court of this state which is served in compliance with the provisions of Rule 4(f) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure served outside the boundaries of this state shall carry the same force and effect as if it had been personally served within this state's boundaries.