Oregon Divorce How are Parties Notified

You and your spouse or partner can file for divorce together. This is called co-petitioning. If you are co-petitioners, you and your spouse must agree to all terms and conditions in the divorce and both sign the paperwork before it is sumbitted to the court.

If the parties are not co-petitioners, after the petition is filed, the petitioner must arrange for the respondent to be “served” with a copy of the petition and other court papers and information. This means that the respondent is given a copy of the petition that was filed with the court and a summons. The respondent can agree to sign an “Acceptance of Service” that says he or she has received the petition. Otherwise, the sheriff or another adult who meets the legal requirements must give the respondent copies of the papers. If the petitioner, or the sheriff, or process server cannot find the respondent, the petitioner may ask the court to allow the respondent to be served by publishing a notice in a newspaper or posting at the courthouse or another means of alternate service.

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