How to Serve Divorce Papers in California: Rules, Methods, and Deadlines
Serving divorce papers in California means having another adult physically deliver your petition and summons to your spouse — and proving it to the court with form FL-115. You cannot do it yourself, and the court will not advance your case until service is complete. This is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact your county court’s self-help center — free of charge. Here are the legal methods, the deadlines, and the options when a spouse won’t cooperate. For every other stage of the process, see How to File for Divorce in California or The Complete California Divorce Roadmap. ...