How do I properly serve divorce papers?

In California, there are specific rules for properly serving divorce papers in court. Depending on the circumstances, a person can either serve their partner themselves or through a third party. If a person wishes to serve their partner themselves, they will need to use a form known as a “Summons” to provide their partner with the proper court documents. This form will include the date, time, and place of the hearing where the divorce will be finalized. Once the Summons is completed, the person filing for divorce must physically hand-deliver the Summons to their partner. If the partner cannot be located, the paperwork can be left with another adult in the home. Furthermore, the Summons must be handed to the partner in person. Leaving the paperwork on their doorstep will not be considered proper service of divorce papers. If a person is unable to serve the Summons themselves, they can hire a third party to do so. In California, third-party servers are typically law enforcement officers, professional process servers, or a person over the age of 18 who is not involved in the divorce. It is important to remember that service is not complete until the third-party server provides the divorce papers to the partner. Although the process of properly serving divorce papers in California may seem daunting, it is important to understand the rules and regulations. Following the proper protocol will ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.

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How do I properly serve divorce papers?

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