my attorney say they dont know when the divorce papers will be served

by Theodore Ledner 8 min read

Despite properly filing for divorce and serving them with the divorce papers, your spouse may have not responded in time. That is, they failed to file a written response with the court. In this situation, your attorney may file a motion for default judgment.

Full Answer

What happens if my spouse is not served with divorce papers?

May 11, 2020 · Contrary to popular belief, however, most divorces don’t go to court. Being served divorce papers can be a big shock. You face an uncertain future when it comes to finances, family, and more. It’s likely in your best interest to talk to a divorce lawyer about the best way to proceed. Related Reading: Preparing for a Divorce Consultation

When do I have to serve my spouse with divorce papers?

Cordell & Cordell family law attorney Kimberly McCabe discusses what you should do if served with divorce papers. Once you are served with papers, the clock immediately starts and, in most states, you will typically have between 20 and 30 days to respond. If you fail to answer and counter-petition within that allotted time frame, an attorney can file a motion to answer out of …

What happens if you don’t answer a divorce petition?

Oct 09, 2015 · Normally, the notice must run in the paper a certain number of times (usually three to four times) over a certain number of weeks. Your spouse will then be given a certain period of time to file a response to the petition (usually 30-60 days). After the waiting period, your case will begin even if your spouse has failed to respond.

How long do I have to file an answer to divorce?

Your spouse must be served with the following: A copy of the filed Complaint for Divorce; A copy of the Summons; A copy of the Joint Preliminary Injunction (if you filed one) Keep the originals! When to Serve the Defendant. Your documents must be served within 120 days after you file the complaint. If your spouse is not served within 120 days, your complaint will be dismissed and …

image

How soon after filing for divorce are papers served?

The papers will be issued by the court then posted directly to your spouse at the address for service provided. It then takes the court about 2 – 3 weeks to issue and serve the petition on your spouse.Sep 23, 2020

How long does a process server have to serve papers?

For standard serves, the typical time to serve papers is 5-7 days. Turn-around-time (or TAT) can vary from process server to process server. However, this is something that can be determined in most cases by you, which usually leads to a higher cost.

How do I know if my spouse has been served divorce papers?

Your spouse is supposed to mail a copy to you. You can also check with the Family Court Central Intake Center after the 21 days are up to see whether your spouse has filed an Answer. You can check in person or you can call (202-879-1212). You can also go to the Family Court Self-Help Center and ask them to check.

Do divorce papers have to be served?

The papers must be served by a "disinterested person." This means someone who is not a party in the case, not interested in the outcome of the case, and who is at least 18 years old. Family members and significant others (boyfriends/girlfriends) cannot serve the documents.

Do court papers have to be served in person?

Sometimes, the court will require you to personally serve documents on the other party. This means you must arrange for the document to be handed to the other party in person. You may be asked to do this for orders that are made when the other party is not in court.

What happens if court papers Cannot be served?

Without proper process serving, your entire case could end up getting thrown out, costing you tons in legal fees and lost time.Aug 14, 2020

Are divorce papers sent by recorded delivery?

Thereafter, the form and marriage certificate are sent to the relevant court (usually the one closest to where you live) and the court then serves the divorce papers on your spouse, usually by recorded delivery post.Jul 7, 2016

Can you be divorced and not know it?

The Court does not make it easy to divorce a spouse without their knowledge. One has a certain amount of time from the divorce filing in which to serve notice to the other spouse.Nov 25, 2019

What happens after divorce petition is served?

The Petition Once the petition has been sent to the court it will be given a case number and copies will be sent to the other party. This is known as issuing. Generally speaking it takes two to three weeks for the court to issue the divorce papers and send them out.Jan 25, 2017

How long does a decree nisi take?

Getting a decree nisi This may take several weeks. The certificate will tell you the time and date you'll be granted a decree nisi. You'll still be married after the decree nisi has been granted. You'll have to wait 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) before you can apply for a 'decree absolute' to actually end the marriage.

Do divorce papers have to be served UK?

You must serve your spouse the divorce papers which outline the terms of the separation. Understandably, this is where things have the potential to become more complicated. There may be issues regarding paper serving for a number of reasons, especially if your spouse is unwilling to separate.Nov 2, 2021

What counts as unreasonable Behaviour for divorce?

When talking about divorce, 'unreasonable behaviour' is the term used to describe that an individual's spouse has behaved in a way that means they cannot be reasonably expected to continue living with them.Feb 21, 2021