In Utah, simply mailing your spouse the complaint for divorce isn't enough to constitute service under the rules of civil procedure. The rule is as follows* when it comes to serving your spouse with your complaint for divorce by mail (I have included some other excerpts of the rule just to give you some context): Rule 4. Process. (b)(i) Time of service. The summons together with a copy of the complaint shall be served no later than 120 days after the filing of the complaint unless the court allows a longer period of time for good cause shown. If the summons and complaint are not timely served, the action shall be dismissed, without prejudice on application of any party or upon the court's own initiative. ***** (d) Method of service. Unless waived in writing, service of the summons and complaint shall be by one of the following methods: (d)(1) *Personal service*. The summons and complaint may be served in any state or judicial district of the United States by the sheriff or constable or by the deputy of either, by a United States Marshal or by the marshal's deputy, or by any other person 18 years of age or older at the time of service and not a party to the action or a party's attorney. If the person to be served refuses to accept a copy of the process, service shall be sufficient if the person serving the same shall state the name of the process and offer to deliver a copy thereof. Personal service shall be made as follows: (d)(1)(A) Upon any individual other than one covered by subparagraphs (B), (C) or (D) below, by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to the individual personally, or by leaving a copy at the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion there residing, or by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process; (d)(2) *Service by mail or commercial courier service*. (d)(2)(A) The summons and complaint may be served upon an individual . . . by mail or commercial courier service in any state or judicial district of the United States *provided the defendant signs a document indicating receipt*. (d)(2)(C) Service by mail or commercial courier service shall be complete on the date the receipt is signed as provided by this rule. ***** (d)(4) Other service. (d)(4)(A) Where the identity or whereabouts of the person to be served are unknown and cannot be ascertained through reasonable diligence, where service upon all of the individual parties is impracticable under the circumstances, or where there exists good cause to believe that the person to be served is avoiding service of process, the party seeking service of process may file a motion supported by affidavit requesting an order allowing service by publication or by some other means. The supporting affidavit shall set forth the efforts made to identify, locate or serve the party to be served, or the circumstances which make it impracticable to serve all of the individual parties. (d)(4)(B) If the motion is granted, the court shall order service of process by means reasonably calculated, under all the circumstances, to apprise the interested parties of the pendency of the action to the extent reasonably possible or practicable. The court's order shall also specify the content of the process to be served and the event or events as of which service shall be deemed complete. Unless service is by publication, a copy of the court's order shall be served upon the defendant with the process specified by the court. (d)(4)(C) In any proceeding where summons is required to be published, the court shall, upon the request of the party applying for publication, designate the newspaper in which publication shall be made. The newspaper selected shall be a newspaper of general circulation in the county where such publication is required to be made. (e) *Proof of service*. (e)(1) If service is not waived, *the person effe
Answered on Dec 23rd, 2013 at 9:26 AM