Washington Return of Service (ROS) is a form of service of process used in the state of Washington to ensure that a defendant is aware of a legal action against them. It is a method of delivering documents to legally notify a defendant of a civil or criminal action. There are three types of Washington Return of Service: personal service, substituted service, and publication service. Personal service requires that a process server deliver the documents to the defendant directly or to someone residing at the same address as the defendant. The service must be performed in accordance with Washington law and the server must complete an Affidavit of Service. Substituted service of process allows documents to be served to someone connected to the defendant, such as an adult family member, a business partner, or someone employed by the defendant. The server must also complete an Affidavit of Service and mail a copy of the documents to the defendant's residence or place of business. Publication service allows documents to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the court is located. The court must approve this method of service and the server must provide proof of publication and complete an Affidavit of Service. Washington Return of Service is an important part of the legal process and is required to ensure that the defendant is aware of the legal action taken against them.