Does my spouse need to be served with divorce papers?

Yes, in Arizona, your spouse will need to be served with divorce papers. This is done to ensure that your spouse is aware of the divorce proceedings and is given the opportunity to respond accordingly. In order to serve your spouse with divorce papers, you must first file a petition for dissolution of marriage with the court. You are then required to use a process server to deliver the document to your spouse. This can be done in person, by mail, or even electronically. The process server typically must be at least 18 years old and must prove that your spouse was served with the document. If the process server cannot find your spouse, you may also be able to serve them through publication in a newspaper. Once the divorce papers have been served, the court must wait at least 20 days before the divorce can be finalized. This waiting period allows your spouse to respond to the petition. If they fail to respond, a default judgement may be granted. Therefore, it is important that you serve your spouse with the divorce papers to ensure that they are aware of the proceedings and have the chance to respond.

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