California · SPARE Act · AB 747

January 1, every California proof of service needs evidence.

The SPARE Act puts a photo, a timestamp and GPS coordinates behind every attempt. Know your proofs will hold before a defendant tests them.

Effective January 1, 2027

Get the AB 747 Proof of Service Audit

Free 4-page checklist. What to settle before January 1, and what to check on every California proof you file after it.

What changes

Three rules. Every proof.

AB 747 covers personal delivery, substituted service and unlawful detainer posting in California civil cases served from January 1, 2027. Read the full breakdown.

Diligence you can count

3 · 3 · 3

Three good-faith attempts, on three different days, at three different times, before substituted service on an individual.

Evidence for every attempt

📷

A photo of the door, entrance or site, with a readable date, time and GPS stamp. Successful or not.

No proof, no default

585(b)

The clerk can't enter default without proof of service of the summons.

No photo.

No stamp.

No explanation.

That's a gift to the other side.

The stakes

A proof that was routine in December is a weak proof in January.

It's the motion you didn't need to fight. The client call you didn't want to make. The judgment you have to get twice.

The rules apply to everyone who serves. Including the runner who "just drops it off."

What's in the audit

Print it. Keep it at the desk.

Firm readiness

Nine things to settle before January 1, starting with the one question every vendor needs to answer.

Pre-filing audit

The check to run on every proof: the address, the attempts, the photos, the paperwork.

Stop-the-filing red flags

Eight things that should send a proof straight back to the server.

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Pages from the AB 747 Proof of Service Audit

How InfoTrack serves in California

The evidence is built in. Not bolted on.

Every attempt logged with GPS, a timestamp and a photo, as it happens.

Vetted local process servers who know your courts.

Every attempt visible in your matter. No chasing.

Review the proof and file it in one click.

Bad address? Address Research finds a better one.

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Example service attempt log: three attempts on three days at three times, each with a photo and GPS

FAQ

SPARE Act questions, answered

The short answers. The full breakdown is on the blog.

When does the SPARE Act take effect?

January 1, 2027. AB 747 was signed on October 10, 2025.

How many attempts does California require before substituted service?

Three good-faith attempts at personal delivery, on three different days, at three different times (CCP 415.20(b)). In consumer debt cases, at least one must be at the defendant's home if it's known or could be found with reasonable effort.

Do failed service attempts need a photo?

Yes. Every effected or attempted service needs a photo of the site with a readable date, time and GPS stamp, unless the server documents a lack of signal or a safety concern in a detailed statement.

Does the SPARE Act apply if a non-registered person serves the papers?

Yes. The rules attach to the service and the proof of service, not to the server's registration status.

Does the SPARE Act apply to serving a corporation?

The three-attempt diligence standard doesn't apply to substituted service on corporations and other entities under CCP 415.20(a). Photo documentation still applies when a covered service method is used.

Filing a proof without evidence after January 1 is like signing a contract you haven't read. It's fine until somebody checks.

General information, not legal advice. Sources: AB 747 (Stats. 2025, ch. 563); Judicial Council of California, Invitation to Comment SPR26-08. Confirm current rules, form versions and effective dates before relying on them.

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