POS-030: Proof of Service by First-Class Mail (Civil)

Caption must show the name, address, and telephone of the attorney or self-represented party. Without it the clerk cannot identify who filed the proof of service.

Telephone number is part of the required caption block. Many clerks will reject filings missing a phone number on the caption.

Fax is optional. Most self-represented filers don't have one and the form has no requirement to provide it.

Email is required for attorneys but not for self-represented parties. Recommended because some courts use it for case communications.

Caption must indicate which party the filing is on behalf of. For a self-represented party, the convention is 'in Pro Per' or 'in Propria Persona'.

The county where the action is pending must be identified , the form prints 'SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF ___'.

The form has explicit boxes for street address, mailing address, city/zip, and branch. The street address identifies the courthouse.

Most courts use the same address for street and mailing , the form lets you specify a different mailing address only if applicable.

City and ZIP for the courthouse , required to identify the courthouse address fully.

Many large counties (e.g., Los Angeles, San Diego) require a branch name so the clerk routes to the right courthouse. Smaller counties with one courthouse don't need it.

Title of the case must include all parties; in two-party actions both names appear. Mismatch with the underlying form makes the proof unable to be paired by the clerk.

Defendant's name in the caption , must match the underlying form exactly.

Case number must appear on every filed paper. Without it the clerk cannot file the proof of service into the case.

The proof of service must show the residence or business address of the person who deposited the envelope. The server must also be at least 18 and not a party , those facts are baked into the printed declaration on the form.

The date of deposit in the mail is the operative date , service is complete on this date and triggers the 5-day add-on under § 1013(a). Without it the court cannot calculate response deadlines.

The 'place of deposit' must be identified. The server must be a resident of or employed in the county where the mailing occurs , so this should be in the same county as the server's address.

The exact title of every document mailed must be listed. Vague descriptions like 'my response' are insufficient , the court must be able to confirm the specific filing was served.

POS-030 item 4 distinguishes between Method 1 (personal deposit with USPS) and Method 3 (organizational ordinary-business-practice mailing). Each has different statutory requirements; choosing the wrong one can void the proof.

The proof must name the person served. § 1015 requires that when a party has counsel of record, service is on the attorney , not the party. Mailing to the wrong person can render the service ineffective.

The mailing address used on the envelope. Must be the recipient's address as set forth on a paper filed in the action, or otherwise known to the server.

A declaration under penalty of perjury must show the date and place of execution. POS-030's signature block prints 'I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct' , the date completes that declaration.

The server's name must appear on the proof. The form requires a printed name AND a handwritten signature , the printed name identifies who is signing the declaration.