“Service” of divorce papers is the legal process by which you give your spouse the required notice of the divorce. This basically means you need to make sure your spouse gets a copy of the divorce complaint and summons (divorce paperwork). The easiest way to do this is to get your spouse to agree to accept service, and sign an acknowledgement saying he or she was served. If your spouse refuses, you’ll have to ask a third person to serve your spouse. This third person could be the local sheriff, an attorney or attorney’s agent (such as a process server). This third person should deliver the complaint and summons to your spouse (literally hand them to your spouse), or deliver them to your spouse’s home, and leave them with a competent member of your spouse’s household that’s at least 14 years old. If, despite your efforts, your spouse manages to avoid service, you may be able to mail a copy of the summons and complaint to your spouse’s home address via registered or certified mail.