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Serving Divorce Forms in Minnesota

After you have prepared and filed all the forms required to get divorced in Minnesota, the next step is to have those papers served to your spouse.

Service of legal paperwork is a critical part of the legal system. It ensures all parties involved are aware of the lawsuit and have an equal opportunity to appear in court and argue their position. It prevents a person from being blindsided by legal action and consequences.

There are two main options provided by the state of Minnesota for service of divorce paperwork. If you are the petitioner, you have the option to choose one of these two options:

  • Mail documents: If you believe your spouse will cooperate, you can mail documents to them and provide them with an acknowledgement of service form for them to sign and return. You can also include a return envelope with postage to make it as easy on them as possible. Once you receive the signed acknowledgement form you can file it with court and the case can proceed. However, if your spouse refuses to sign the paperwork you will need to proceed to the next option.
  • Personal service: If you have reason to believe your spouse will be uncooperative or if you have tried mailing and it did not work, you can contact a professional process server or the local sheriff to have them personally serve your spouse. This involves them locating your spouse and physically handing them a copy of the summons and divorce petition. The person performing the service can then complete an affidavit of service and return it to you. You will then file that form with the court.

For more information about how service works and what to do in special circumstances (such as a spouse who is hard to locate or is in jail), contact an experienced Minnesota divorce lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.

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  • "Tori had a thorough understanding of my situation and made excellent recommendations to resolve my concerns. She was persistent on communication and handled everything in a very timely manner. I would definitely hire her again in the future if needed." - M.K.

  • "With Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., it is like having a family physician. They are all knowledgeable, thorough, comforting, and the only call I need to make for all my legal needs for many years to come. No matter what the matter, I totally trust their advice and commitment to me and my family." - J.N.

  • "Mary from APH Law helped me thru a difficult divorce. She and the entire staff was there for me every step of the way helping me on what to do next. They listened to what I wanted and helped me achieve what matter the most to me in the divorce settlement." - Dana C.

  • "I chose APH after my initial consultation with Mary. I felt my best interest would be represented. The entire process went excellent, the attorneys and staff communicated effectively and efficiently with me throughout the process as they needed to. Being new to the legal process and verbiage, they walked me and talked me through the next steps and the jargon, I felt completely comfortable and represented. I hope I never have to use legal services again but if I do I will call Mary at APH Law and know that I will be taken care of." - Jeff M.

  • "Divorce is a time of emotion and stress. Mary Pfeifer , My lawyer was professional and compassionate. She was very informative through the process. Her insight helped me in my decisions. She worked hard to obtain a settlement which was fair to both parties. Though, I hope I won't need her help again. It is reassuring to know a good person that is willing to help." - Rod S.

  • "I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhof, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law. " - M.H.

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