How do I properly serve divorce papers?

In Virginia, divorce papers must be properly served to the other party in order for the proceedings to move forward. The most common way of serving divorce papers is to have a sheriff or a professional process server deliver them to the other party. This helps to ensure that the other party is made aware of the divorce proceedings and his/her right to attend any future hearings. In most cases, the divorce papers must be personally served, meaning that the process server must physically hand the documents to the other party. Process servers may leave the papers in the mailbox or at the residence of the other party if they are not available at the time of service. It is important to note, however, that this method is not accepted in all counties. Additionally, the process server is required to fill out a proof of service form or affidavit of service that details when, where, and how the papers were served. This form must be filed with the clerk of court. If the other party cannot be located or does not accept the papers, service by publication may be necessary. This basically means that the court will publish a notice of the divorce in a local newspaper. This is typically a last resort and is only acceptable if all other attempts at service have been unsuccessful.

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How do I properly serve divorce papers?

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