In addition to serving process on any third party in possession of property of the defendant, attachment process (writ of attachment, order for issuance and notice of attachment) must be served on the defendant at the time of levy or promptly thereafter. (CCP 488.305) In the case of a levy on the estate of a decedent, the attachment process is not served on the defendant until an order from the Probate court is received. (CCP 488.485(c))
Service on the defendant shall be personal, in the manner of service of summons, or, if the defendant has appeared in the action, by mail. Any service required to be made on the defendant shall be made personally if the defendant has not appeared in the action. Except for service of a subpoena or other process to require the attendance of the defendant or service of a paper to bring the defendant into contempt, if the defendant has an attorney of record in the action, service shall be made on the attorney, rather than on the defendant. Failure to serve the defendant does not invalidate the levy.