§ 47-1374 — Service of process.

(a) The plaintiff shall set forth in the caption of the complaint the last address known to the plaintiff or to the attorney filing the complaint of each defendant, as obtained from:

(1) Any records examined as part of the title examination;

(2) The Recorder of Deeds; and

(3) Any other address that is known to the plaintiff or the attorney filing the complaint.

(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not require the plaintiff or the attorney for the plaintiff to make any investigations or to search any other records or sources of information other than those stated.

(c) This subsection applies only if a last known address for a defendant is obtained as provided under subsections (a) and (b) of this section. The plaintiff shall cause a copy of the order of publication to be mailed by first class, certified mail, postage prepaid, to each defendants address as determined by the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) Notice to a defendant may be made in any other manner that results in actual notice of the pendency of the action to the defendant. If notice is given under this subsection, the plaintiff shall file an affidavit that fairly describes the method and time of service.

(1) A final judgment may not be entered earlier than the later of:

(A) One year following the initial scheduling conference in the foreclosure action; or

(B) Four months following the completion of service on the owner and all parties identified as defendants in § 47-1371 .

(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to any final judgment in which all interested parties have disclaimed any interest in the property subject to the judgment or in a case where a real property was sold under § 47-1353(a)(3) or (b).

Legislative History

June 9, 2001, D.C. Law 13-305, § 507(a)(2), 48 DCR 334; Dec. 4, 2014, D.C. Law 20-141, § 101(c)(26), 61 DCR 7763; Feb. 26, 2015, D.C. Law 20-155, §§ 7102(c)(26), 7104, 61 DCR 9990