Hi,

I need to sue previous tenants at my property for unpaid rent/utilities and damages, but they have moved out and they did not give me a forwarding address. How do I obtain that from the USPS? I tried to call the USPS and they say they need something from the court saying they can release that info. I called the district court civil department and they said they can't help or provide anything that I can provide to the post office.

Any help in how I can obtain their forwarding address would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Hello syou:

Sure. Send an empty envelope with your return address and first class postage. Print a little note under the stamp "Address correction requested". You should get something back from the post office.

excon

PS> Of course, you could always send your summons certified, return receipt requested. They'll forward it to them, and who knows, they might sign for it.

They're known not to accept certified letters (I've tried this before), so I definitely need to have them served by the sheriff in person.

Can you clarify the first option - who should I address the envelope to? Do you mean I should put their name and the last known address for them?

Also, is this the only way to do this? I was hoping for something with a faster turn around (I need to submit papers to court on thursday).

Thanks a lot

Ps - I do have the lady's work address, however it's not in the same county where I'm sueing them and she only works there part time. Can I use that address for BOTH of them (husband/wife) and note the days she can be served? Would she even be able to sign for the husband?

Hello again, syou:

Yup. Address it to them. Faster?? My dear, this secret that I passed on to you is known by 47 people in the entire world (48 now if we count you).

It's good, and pretty fast - but it ain't going to happen by Thursday.

excon

Thanks excon :-)

I edited my previous response at the same time you answered me, so you probably didn't see my PS. See below.

I do have the lady's work address, however it's not in the same county where I'm sueing them and she only works there part time. Can I use that address for BOTH of them (husband/wife) and note the days she can be served? Would she even be able to sign for the husband?

Thanks again

Hello again, syou:

You should be suing them BOTH. If she's the only one served, then she's the one who has to be in court. If you win, you win a judgment against HIM too. But, if you know where the wife works, she's even better. At least you'll be able to collect on the judgment.

excon

I am not sure about where you live but here you go in person to the post office and pay a dollar fee and they give you the forwarding address.

Do it for my renters all the time.

Thanks excon. I plan to sue both, but I only have the wife's work address. What I am not sure about is whether I can put down the wife's work address for both of them. i.e. they would both be served at the wife's work address. Can the wife accept/sign the papers she's served on behalf of her husband along with accepting/signing the copy in her name? Am I making sense?

Hello again:

You're making it more difficult than it is. Sue them both. Use the address you have. Serve the wife. See them in court. Done deal.

Nobody accepts or signs summons's. The process server just hands the papers to them.

Read what I said, and consider the following fact: A husband and wife, for legal purposes, are a unit. You don't have to serve the husband. If you serve one, you serve them both. The husband doesn't even have to go to court. If you win against the wife, you win against the husband too. Best of all you get to COLLECT against them both - and you know where she works.

excon

Got it - finally :-)

Thanks A lot