When it comes to serving legal documents, Ontario courts are making it clear that shortcuts will not be tolerated. In a recent decision, the court emphasized that you must take reasonable and documented steps to locate a defendant before considering substituted service. Simply attempting service at a last known address or defaulting to serving an insurer is not enough—courts now demand evidence of diligent efforts such as licence searches, social media reviews, and even third-party skip tracing. This approach protects procedural fairness and ensures that all parties receive proper notice, so you should be prepared to invest the necessary time and resources before bringing motions related to service.