Does my spouse need to be served with divorce papers?

Yes, your spouse must be served with divorce papers in Washington before you can finalize a divorce. This is because the court requires that all parties involved in a divorce are notified of the proceedings. There are two ways in which you can serve your spouse with divorce papers. The first way is personal service. This means that a third-party individual, such as a sheriff or professional process server, must deliver the paperwork to your spouse in person. Once the paperwork is delivered, the individual must complete a proof of service form to confirm that the documents were served. The second way to serve someone with divorce papers is by mail. The court will allow you to mail a copy of the documents to your spouse as long as you can confirm that the documents have been received. To accomplish this, you must have the documents sent by certified mail and have the post office provide a return receipt that documents the date that the documents were received. It is important to note that, regardless of the method used, you must provide the court with proof that your spouse was properly served with the documents. Once the court has confirmed that the documents have been properly served, the divorce can then proceed as normal.

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Does my spouse need to be served with divorce papers?

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