In Iowa can I personally serve my husband divorce papers?

The answer to the question "Can I serve my husband divorce papers?" in Iowa depends on several different things. First, it assumes that you know where your husband is and how to find him to personally serve the papers. Even if you don't know where he is, there is a process that you can be responsible for that publicly gives him notice.

You should realize that if you are planning to hire a divorce attorney to assist you with the divorce, your attorney will handle the service of the divorce petition to your spouse. This is an especially desirable situation if you have any reason to fear your spouse's reaction to being served with the papers, or if there has been any past history of abuse. Divorce can be an extremely emotional time for both spouses, so think twice before making the final decision about who is going to serve the divorce papers.

If you have not yet decided about hiring an attorney, you can hire the sheriff or a civil process server to serve the papers. You will have to pay a fee for this, which you can find out about at your county clerk's office.

• If you are serving the papers yourself, you will also need to complete Form FL-104, Original Notice of Personal Service and bring two copies with you to the county clerk's office.
• You will also need Form FL-105, Acceptance of Service. This form is signed by your spouse, if you know where he is and he is willing to sign it.
• If you are having the sheriff or a civil process server handle this, you will need Form FL-106, Directions for Service of Original Notice.

Dissolving a marriage may not ultimately be as easy as you think it will be, and there are bound to be issues that you did not consider up front. Even if you decide against using an attorney, you should at least give yourself the opportunity to meet with an experienced local divorce attorney to learn about what they can do for you and how you can ensure your future interests are protected.