Legal Action Workshop Video – Proof of Service vs. Response to Divorce in California

Many people do not understand the difference between signing a Proof of Service and responding to a Divorce petition.These two actions are NOT the same!A Proof of Service is a formal notification that your spouse has filed for Divorce. This is a mandatory document that must be filed with the courts. If the respondent is cooperative, he/she could be served by mail. If the respondent is not cooperative he/she can be served by a process server or other adult as long as that person is not a child of the marriage.

In contrast, the completion of a Response to Divorce is an optional document that could be filed based on whether there is a disagreement over issues or the respondent wants to protect his/her legal rights.

A consultation with the attorney will determine the best options.