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Serving divorce papers in Arizona

How your spouse gets the divorce papers in Arizona: 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.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026

In short

If you were served: Time to respond: 20 days after service if your spouse was served in Arizona; 30 days if served outside Arizona (Maricopa County Superior Court service instructions, DR23p). If you are filing: Your spouse must be served with the petition and summons by a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail if allowed, or can sign an Acceptance of Service.

Accept or waive service
Possible: your spouse signs a form
Law
Ariz. R. Fam. Law P. 40-41 (service); Maricopa County Superior Court, 'How to serve court papers by registered process server' (https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/aiuljlzo/dr23pz.pdf)

Were you served in Arizona?

Enter the day you got the papers (the summons and the petition). We show the deadline to answer.

The day the papers were handed to you or you signed for them.

Enter the date you were servedYour deadline appears when you enter the date.

How papers are served in Arizona

Your spouse must be served with the petition and summons by a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail if allowed, or can sign an Acceptance of Service.

Law: Ariz. R. Fam. Law P. 40-41 (service); Maricopa County Superior Court, 'How to serve court papers by registered process server' (https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/aiuljlzo/dr23pz.pdf)

Deadline to respond and default

20 days after service if your spouse was served in Arizona; 30 days if served outside Arizona (Maricopa County Superior Court service instructions, DR23p).

If your spouse never responds, you can ask for a default decree.

Serving your spouse in Arizona, step by step

  1. File your papers first

    File with the Superior Court in your county. Service comes after filing.

  2. Serve the papers

    Your spouse must be served with the petition and summons by a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail if allowed, or can sign an Acceptance of Service.

  3. Or have your spouse sign

    Your spouse must be served with the petition and summons by a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail if allowed, or can sign an Acceptance of Service.

  4. File proof of service

    File the proof of service with the court.

  5. Watch the deadline

    20 days after service if your spouse was served in Arizona; 30 days if served outside Arizona (Maricopa County Superior Court service instructions, DR23p).

  6. If there is no response

    If your spouse never responds, you can ask for a default decree.

Questions about serving divorce papers in Arizona

How do you serve divorce papers in Arizona?

Your spouse must be served with the petition and summons by a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail if allowed, or can sign an Acceptance of Service.

Can my spouse accept or waive service in Arizona?

Your spouse must be served with the petition and summons by a sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail if allowed, or can sign an Acceptance of Service.

How long does my spouse have to respond in Arizona?

20 days after service if your spouse was served in Arizona; 30 days if served outside Arizona (Maricopa County Superior Court service instructions, DR23p).

What if my spouse doesn't respond in Arizona?

If your spouse never responds, you can ask for a default decree.

More about divorce in Arizona

Serving papers in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.