New Policy for 3-Day Notice Services Update

Today the California Judicial Council revised its website posting in the Self Help section and removed the statement about service being complete ten days after mailing of a subserved or posted 3-day notice to pay rent or quit.

Presumably, they will be sending this to the courts statewide.

At least one court, Contra Costa Superior Court, is no longer following that directive.

How to Give Notice

You have to serve the notice on the tenant properly. You can do it yourself, or you can ask a friend to do it. You can also hire a process server. The person who serves the notice must be at least 18 years old.

There are 3 ways to serve the notice:

Personal service: You or someone else gives the notice directly to the tenant in person.

Substituted service: If the tenant is not home, you can leave the notice with a member of the household, at least 18 years old, where the tenant lives AND then mail a second copy to the tenant at the property. With substituted service, the notice is considered served the day of mailing of the second copy, and you start counting the notice period the day after mailing.

Posting and mailing (“nail and mail”) service: If there is no one home to leave the papers with, you can tape or nail the notice to the front door or somewhere where it can be seen easily AND send a copy by mail to the tenant at the property. With this type of service, the notice is considered served the day of mailing of the second copy, and you start counting the notice period the day after mailing.

You can see it here: https://www.courts.ca.gov/27723.htm