Rule 5.68. Manner of service of summons and petition; response; jurisdiction

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.68

Current text effective January 1, 2026.

#(a) Service of summons and petition

The petitioner must arrange to serve the other party with a summons, petition, and other papers as required by one of the following methods:

#(1) Personal service (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.10);

#(2) Substituted service (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.20);

#(3) Service by mail with a notice and acknowledgment of receipt (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.30);

#(4) Service on person outside of the state (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.40);

#(5) Service on a person residing outside of the United States, which must be done in compliance with service rules of the following:

#(A) Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters; or

#(B) Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and the Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory.

#(6) Service by posting or publication (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 415.50 and 413.30).

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2014.)

#(b) Service of response to petition

A response to a family law petition may be served by the methods described in (a) but may also be served by mail without notice and acknowledgment of receipt.

#(c) Continuing jurisdiction

The court has jurisdiction over the parties and control of all subsequent proceedings from the time of service of the summons and a copy of the petition. A general appearance of the respondent is equivalent to personal service within this state of the summons and a copy of the petition upon him or her.

#(d) Service of pleading revoking joint petition

If either party revokes a joint petition under Family Code section 2342.5(b), the revoking party must serve a copy of the following documents on the other party in the same manner as service of a notice or motion (Code Civ. Proc, § 1010 et seq.):

#(1) A completed and filed pleading revoking the joint petition (amended Petition—Marriage/Domestic Partnership (form FL-100) or amended Response—Marriage/Domestic Partnership (form FL-120)); and

#(2) A completed and filed Notice of Revocation of Joint Petition (form FL-720).

(Subd (d) adopted effective January 1, 2026.)

#History

Rule 5.68 amended effective January 1, 2026; adopted effective January 1, 2013; previously amended effective January 1, 2014.

What this rule requires

Service and Proof of Service Rules

(1) Personal service (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.10);
(2) Substituted service (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.20);
(3) Service by mail with a notice and acknowledgment of receipt (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.30);
(4) Service on person outside of the state (Code Civ. Proc., § 415.40);
(A) Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters; or
(B) Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and the Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory.
(6) Service by posting or publication (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 415.50 and 413.30).
A response to a family law petition may be served by the methods described in (a) but may also be served by mail without notice and acknowledgment of receipt.
The court has jurisdiction over the parties and control of all subsequent proceedings from the time of service of the summons and a copy of the petition.
A general appearance of the respondent is equivalent to personal service within this state of the summons and a copy of the petition upon him or her.
(1) A completed and filed pleading revoking the joint petition (amended Petition—Marriage/Domestic Partnership (form FL-100) or amended Response—Marriage/Domestic Partnership (form FL-120)); and
(2) A completed and filed Notice of Revocation of Joint Petition (form FL-720).

Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.