Taking an out of state tenants to court?

[James Fisher]

My rentals are in a college town.  I deal almost exclusively with students and rent by semester, not month to month.

I have evicted three tenants, all from out of state (PA and NJ), and I want to sue them for the money they owe.  I'm knocking off a few grand from each tenants debt to keep it below $5,000.  Over $5,000 and it's handled in the Federal Court (that's my understanding) and I don't want to get that deep in.  

I think the crux is the serving of the notice.  

I think I can sue them in my local magistrate, but I have to serve them somehow.  I don't know where they currently live, nor do I have SSNs etc. 

At this point, even though I may never get paid, it's a matter of principle.  I am more than willing to get a judgement and lien so for the next 7-10 years these kids cannot get any sort of credit.  And I hope it shows up when they apply for jobs so they can't get hired.