Arizona family law matters are governed by the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure. Service requirements for family court documents differ in important ways from general civil procedure and must be strictly followed.
The petition and summons must be personally served on the responding spouse. The respondent has 20 days to respond if served in Arizona, 30 days if served outside Arizona.
Petitions for legal decision-making and parenting time must be personally served. Failure to serve properly can void the proceedings.
Child support establishment and modification petitions require personal service on all parties.
Arizona protective orders require personal service before they become enforceable. Law enforcement can serve, but private process servers are faster.
Petitions to modify custody, support, or parenting time require re-service on all responding parties.
Maricopa County
Pinal County