Serving divorce papers in Minnesota
How your spouse gets the divorce papers in Minnesota: 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
Quick answer
If you were served: Time to respond: 30 days after service to answer the petition (after the publication period ends, if served by publication) (Minn. Stat. 518.12). If you are filing: 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.
- Accept or waive service
- Possible: your spouse signs a form
- Law
- Minn. Stat. 518.12; Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 302-303
Were you served in Minnesota?
Enter the day you got the papers (the summons and the petition). We show the deadline to answer.
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
File your papers first
File with the District Court in the county where you or your spouse live. Service comes after filing.
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.
Or have your spouse sign
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.
File proof of service
File the proof of service with the court.
Watch the deadline
30 days after service to answer the petition (after the publication period ends, if served by publication) (Minn. Stat. 518.12).
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
How do you serve divorce papers 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.
Can my spouse accept or waive service 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.
How long does my spouse have to respond in Minnesota?
30 days after service to answer the petition (after the publication period ends, if served by publication) (Minn. Stat. 518.12).
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
Serving papers in nearby states
Sources
- Minn. Stat. 518.06 Grounds
- Minn. Stat. 518.13 Failure to answer; findings
- Minn. Stat. 518.157 Parent education
- Minn. Stat. 518.195 Summary dissolution
- Minn. Stat. 518.552 Spousal maintenance
- Minn. Stat. 518.27 Name
- Minn. Stat. 357.021 Court fees
- Minn. Stat. 518.12 Time to answer
- Minn. Stat. 518.07
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.