in a breach of contract case in California if you serve the summons and complaint by substitute service how much time does the defendant have to answer before plaintiff can file a default?
Service is complete 10 days after someone who is over the age of 18 and not a party to the action mails a copy to the person served at the address where the papers were left. The person being served then has 30 days to answer. So 40 days after mailing.