Before a court allows alternative service methods like publication, the plaintiff must prove they tried everything reasonable to find the person first.
This affidavit lists specific actions: searching telephone directories, checking voter registration, contacting the post office for forwarding addresses, searching social media, checking with known relatives, and visiting last known addresses. It serves as proof that the missing person is not being ignored, but truly cannot be found, thereby justifying the court's permission to proceed without personal service.