Serving divorce papers in Minnesota

How papers are served in Minnesota

• Your spouse must be personally served with the summons and petition by someone 18+ who is not a party (often the sheriff), or can sign an Admission of Service.
• Joint petitions need no service.

Law: Minn. Stat. 518.12; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 302-303

Deadline to respond and default

30 days after service to answer the petition (after the publication period ends, if served by publication) (Minn. Stat. 518.12).

If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask the judge for a default judgment.

Serving your spouse in Minnesota, step by step

1. File your papers first

   File with the District Court in the county where you or your spouse live. Service comes after filing.

2. Serve the papers

   Your spouse must be personally served with the summons and petition by someone 18+ who is not a party (often the sheriff), or can sign an Admission of Service.

3. Or have your spouse sign

   Joint petitions need no service.

4. File proof of service

   File the proof of service with the court.

5. Watch the deadline

   30 days after service to answer the petition (after the publication period ends, if served by publication) (Minn. Stat. 518.12).

6. If there is no response

   If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask the judge for a default judgment.

Questions about serving divorce papers in Minnesota

More about divorce in Minnesota

• All Minnesota divorce laws
• Uncontested divorce in Minnesota
• Minnesota divorce forms and filing fees
• Alimony in Minnesota
• Child custody and support in Minnesota
• Divorce timeline estimator for Minnesota
• Divorce checklist for Minnesota
• Served with divorce papers: what to do
• Timeline estimator

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