(a) Service of summons shall be made personally by delivery of a “”stamped filed”” copy to the person or legal entity summoned; provided that if the court is satisfied that it is impractical to personally serve the summons provided for in the preceding section, the court may order service by registered or certified mail addressed to the last known address, or by publication, or both. Service shall be effected at least 24 hours prior to the time fixed in the summons for a preliminary hearing or at least 48 hours prior to the time fixed in the summons for any other hearing under this Chapter, unless such party otherwise was ordered by the court to appear at such hearing. When publication is used the summons shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Guam. The newspaper shall be designated by the court in its order for publication of the summons and such publication shall have the same force and effect as though such person had been personally served with the summons. Personal service of summons required under this Chapter shall be made by the marshal or a licensed process server and a return must be made on the summons showing to whom, the date and time service was made.

(b) If any person summoned as provided in this section, without reasonable cause, shall fail to appear, the court may proceed in such person’s absence or such person may be proceeded against for contempt of court pursuant to § 13326. Where the summons cannot be personally served, or where a person served fails to obey the summons, or in any case when it shall be made to appear to the court that the service will be ineffectual, or that the best interests of the child require that the child be brought before the court, the court may issue either a

COL 6/21/2023

19 Guam Code Ann. PERSONAL RELATIONS
CH. 13 CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT

warrant for such person or an order to show cause why contempt shall not be found for failure to appear pursuant to § 13326.