Sec. 51.052. SERVICE BY MAIL. (a) The county clerk, or the personal representative if required by statute or court order, shall serve a citation or notice required or permitted to be served by regular mail by mailing the original citation or notice to the person to be cited or notified.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the county clerk shall issue a citation or notice required or permitted to be served by registered or certified mail and shall serve the citation or notice by mailing the original citation or notice by registered or certified mail.

(c) A personal representative shall issue a notice required to be given by the representative by registered or certified mail and shall serve the notice by mailing the original notice by registered or certified mail.

(d) The county clerk or personal representative, as applicable, shall mail a citation or notice under Subsection (b) or (c) with an instruction to deliver the citation or notice to the addressee only and with return receipt requested. The clerk or representative, as applicable, shall address the envelope containing the citation or notice to:

(1) the attorney of record in the proceeding for the person to be cited or notified; or

(2) the person to be cited or notified, if the citation or notice to the attorney is returned undelivered or the person to be cited or notified has no attorney of record in the proceeding.

(e) Service by mail shall be made at least 20 days before the return day of the service, excluding the date of service. The date of service by mail is the date of mailing.

(f) A copy of a citation or notice served under Subsection (a), (b), or (c), together with a certificate of the person serving the citation or notice showing that the citation or notice was mailed and the date of the mailing, shall be filed and recorded. A returned receipt for a citation or notice served under Subsection (b) or (c) shall be attached to the certificate.

(g) If a citation or notice served by mail is returned undelivered, a new citation or notice shall be issued. Service of the new citation or notice must be made by posting.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 680, Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.