The summons so issued must be served by the sheriff, as follows:

1. As to the personal defendant, by delivering to and leaving with him or her a copy of the summons if he or she is found within the county. If the personal defendant cannot, after diligent search, be found within the county, service may be made upon that personal defendant by publishing a notice, substantially in the form described in NRS 361.680, if the action is brought by a district attorney, in a newspaper published in the county once each week for 3 successive weeks. If no newspaper is published in the county, or a newspaper is published in the county and, from any cause whatever, the proprietor, manager or chief clerk of that newspaper refuses to publish the notice, such facts to be shown by affidavit of the officer serving the summons, the notice prescribed by NRS 361.680 may be posted at the courthouse door of the county in which the suit is commenced for 21 days. No order of court is necessary for such publication or posting, but the sheriff shall publish or post the notice as provided in this section when the personal defendant cannot be found within the county, and shall return the manner of service on the summons.

2. As to real estate and improvements thereon, or improvements when assessed to a person other than the owner of the real estate, and as to all owners of or claimants to the same, known or unknown, service of the summons may be made by posting a copy of the summons in a public place on the real estate, or improvements, when assessed separately, for 21 days, and also by publishing or posting a notice in the same manner and for the same time as required in cases where the personal defendant cannot be found in the county.

[Part 46:344:1953] — (NRS A 2005, 515)