Utah · Serving papers · Updated Oct 2026

Serving divorce papers in Utah

How your spouse gets the divorce papers in Utah: who can deliver the papers, how your spouse can accept or waive service, the deadline to respond, what happens without a response and the law.

The short answer

Someone 18 or older who isn't you delivers the papers to your spouse (or leaves them at home with another adult), or your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service (form 1022FA). Time to respond: 21 days if served in Utah; 30 days if served outside Utah.

Accept or waive service
Yes
Law
Utah Courts divorce page; Utah R. Civ. P. 4, 12

How papers are served in Utah

  • Someone 18 or older who isn't you delivers the papers to your spouse (or leaves them at home with another adult), or your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service (form 1022FA).
  • Then file the proof of service.

Law: Utah Courts divorce page; Utah R. Civ. P. 4, 12

Deadline to respond and default

21 days if served in Utah; 30 days if served outside Utah

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

Serving your spouse in Utah, step by step

  1. File your papers first

    File with the District Court in the county where you or your spouse has lived for 90 days. Service comes after filing.

  2. Serve the papers

    Then file the proof of service.

  3. Or have your spouse sign

    Someone 18 or older who isn't you delivers the papers to your spouse (or leaves them at home with another adult), or your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service (form 1022FA).

  4. File proof of service

    File the proof of service with the court.

  5. Watch the deadline

    21 days if served in Utah; 30 days if served outside Utah.

  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 Utah

How do you serve divorce papers in Utah?

Someone 18 or older who isn't you delivers the papers to your spouse (or leaves them at home with another adult), or your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service (form 1022FA). Then file the proof of service.

Can my spouse accept or waive service in Utah?

Someone 18 or older who isn't you delivers the papers to your spouse (or leaves them at home with another adult), or your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service (form 1022FA).

How long does my spouse have to respond in Utah?

21 days if served in Utah; 30 days if served outside Utah

More about divorce in Utah

Serving papers in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.