How to Serve the Initial Court Papers (Family Law)

This article explains how to serve the initial court papers in a family law matter (such as a divorce, custody, modification, child's name change, or paternity case).

Serving respondents in a family law case with the initial papers is one of the most important steps in your case. You cannot finish your case if you do not make every effort to serve the other parties unless they voluntarily sign a waiver of service or answer. Learn about the procedure of serving the respondent(s) with the initial court papers and the alternative ways you can serve a respondent if you cannot find them.

Forms discussed in this article are included.

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Do I have to serve the respondent(s) with the initial court papers?

Yes. Each person named as a respondent in your petition (the form you file to start your case) must be served with the initial court papers.

Exception: A respondent does not need to be served with the initial court papers if they will voluntarily fill out and sign:

• A Respondent’s Original Answer form, or
• A Waiver of Service Only (Specific Waiver) form (this form must be signed in front of a notary).

You can skip the rest of this article if each respondent will voluntarily fill out and sign an answer or waiver of service.

What papers do I have served?

Each respondent must be served with the initial court papers, which include:

• The citation (get this form at the clerk’s office when you file your case); and
• A copy of your petition (the form you file to start your case); and
• A copy of any other forms you file with your petition.

Can I be the server?

No. You must arrange for a constable, sheriff, or private process server to serve the initial court papers. You may need to ask the district clerk to issue the citation so that you can give it to a constable, sheriff, or private process server.

How can the respondent be served?

You can have a constable, sheriff, private process server, or the court clerk serve the respondent using one of these methods.

Personal Service. (This method is best.)

The constable, sheriff, or private process server will:

• Deliver the initial court papers to the respondent in person; and
• Complete a Return of Service form that says when and where the respondent was served; and
• File the completed Return of Service with the court or send it to you to file with the court. (The Return of Service is proof the respondent was served.)

The respondent will not have to sign anything.

Service by Registered or Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.

The clerk (or constable) will:

• Mail the initial court papers to the respondent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested; and
• If the return receipt (or “green card”) is signed by the respondent and returned to the clerk, the clerk (or constable) will complete a Return of Service form that says when and where the respondent was served; and
• File the completed Return of Service with the court or send it to you to file.

Warning! You should only use service by registered or certified mail if you know that the respondent will sign for the certified letter. If someone else signs for the letter or the respondent does not sign his or her name exactly as it is written on your petition, you will have to pay another fee and have the respondent served a different way.

Substituted Service by Court Order.

You can ask the judge for permission to serve your spouse another way if the constable, sheriff, or private process server:

• Has tried to serve your spouse in person or by registered or certified mail without success and
• Can confirm that your spouse lives, works, or can be found at the location where service was attempted.

You must file a Motion for Substituted Service and a Rule 106(b) Affidavit from the constable, sheriff, or private process server. If the judge is convinced that your spouse can be found at the location where service was attempted, the judge can sign an Order for Substituted Service that authorizes the constable, sheriff, or private process server to:

• Leave a copy of the initial divorce papers with anyone over 16 at the location specified in the affidavit or
• Authorize service in any other manner that will be reasonably effective to give your spouse notice of the divorce.

Service by Social Media.

It is possible to serve someone through social media. Read Service by Social Media to learn more about this method of service. See Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 17.033 .

Service by Posting (no kids).

This method of service is used if you cannot find the respondent (after looking really hard), and there are no children involved. Read Service by Posting (when you can’t find your spouse in a divorce without kids) to learn more.

Service by Publication (with kids).

This method of service is used if you cannot find the respondent (after looking really hard), and there are children involved. Read Service by Publication (when you can’t find the other parent) to learn more. Citation is published by both the newspaper and by a statewide public information website.

Getting the respondent served can be complicated. If you have questions, talk to a lawyer.

How do I serve the rest of the court papers I file?

As a general rule, only the initial filing papers (citation, petition, and any other papers you file with the petition) need to be served by a constable, sheriff, private process server, or court clerk. You can serve the rest of the papers yourself.

Send a copy of any papers you file in the case to each respondent. If a respondent has a lawyer, send a copy to the lawyer instead. You can use any of these delivery methods:

• Hand delivery,
• Email,
• Regular mail or certified mail, return receipt requested,
• Commercial delivery service (for example, FedEx),
• Fax, or
• Electronic service through eFileTexas. (Note: This method is required if you electronically file (E-File) the Petition, and the email address of the respondent or the respondent’s lawyer is on file with the electronic file manager.)

Exception: If you file an amended petition and the respondent has not filed an answer, you must:

• Ask the clerk to reissue the citation and attach a copy of your amended petition, and
• Arrange for the respondent to be served by a constable, sheriff, or private process server (with the new citation and amended petition).