R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-21: Service by publication — Jurisdiction acquired.

After service of process on any petition, whether by citation or by publication, where the adverse party has no attorney of record and cannot be found for the service of citation or notice of any motion or any other matter arising in the course of the proceedings, the court may order service by publication and the service shall have the same effect as personal service within the state on the party; provided, that the service shall not, in the case of an adverse party who has not appeared either in person or by attorney, and the petition against him or her was served by publication, authorize the entry of any decree or order binding the party personally to pay any sum of money or to do any other affirmative act.