A post office box may seem anonymous, but there are ways in which you can find out the name of a post office box holder, as well as his real address. The law allows you to request this information under certain circumstances and for special purposes that are different when you are dealing with an individual versus a business. You need to know the details of when you are entitled to this information and the proper steps for making your request, as well as the limitations.
Determine whether you are entitled to get the name of the post office box holder. According to information from the Superior Court of California, you can request the person's name and address if he is using the post office box to conduct business with the public or to solicit business. If the box is held by an individual who is not using it for business purposes, you can get the information if you need it to serve him with a court process.
If the post office box is being used for business purposes, gather evidence of that use. The Superior Court of California says you can use an advertisement, flier, correspondence or anything else that is directly tied to a business being run with the post office box address.
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Visit the post office with the evidence and make your request for the box holder's name, or send copies of the proof to the post office along with a written request.
If the post office box is not being used for business but you are involved in a court matter and need to serve the holder, visit the post office and request the appropriate form. You will be required to provide certain details, such as the name of the court and case information. You'll also have to explain that the box holder is a party to the case in some way, such as a judgment debtor or defendant. You'll also have to certify that you will use the information only for serving court papers.
Warnings
- You may be tempted to use information on a personal box holder for purposes other than your court case. Resist the temptation, as you will be subject to severe penalties if you do. These include a fine that can run up $10,000 or up to five years in prison or both.
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Warnings
- You may be tempted to use information on a personal box holder for purposes other than your court case. Resist the temptation, as you will be subject to severe penalties if you do. These include a fine that can run up $10,000 or up to five years in prison or both.
Writer Bio
Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as "The Writer" and "Grit" and she authored the book, "So You Want to Be a Counselor."