How to use the service by publication date calculator
Service by publication is not complete on the day the first notice runs. It finishes after the required number of weekly publications and any waiting period your state adds. This tool takes the first publication date and your state schedule and works out when service is complete and when the answer is due.
How it works - Weekly publications are counted from the first notice, so four publications end 21 days after the first one. Any additional waiting period is added on top, and a response deadline landing on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday rolls forward to the next business day.
Legal basis - Service on an individual under FRCP 4(e)(1) may follow state law, and FRCP 4(h)(1)(A) applies the same route to corporations, so the publication schedule and completion date come from the state statute or rule that applies. Response periods are set by FRCP 12(a) in federal court. Due process limits on notice by publication come from Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank, 339 U.S. 306 (1950). Rules are current as of September 2026.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
FRCP 4(e)(1) lets a plaintiff serve an individual by following the law of the state where the district court sits or where service is made, so the number of publications and the waiting period come from state law, not from a federal schedule.
Many states require publication once a week for three or four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, but the count, the newspaper requirements and any mailing step differ by state.
Usually yes. Courts generally require an affidavit of diligent search showing that personal service could not be made before allowing service by publication, and defects in that showing are a common ground for setting aside a default.