Q: How long do I have to counter file?
My wife served me my acceptance of service and divorce papers 25 days ago. From what I understand I have 30 days to sign acceptance of service, but I also was under the impression that she was not allowed to give them to me, it had to be certified mail or Sheriff. Also I don't know how long I have to counter file after I sign the acceptance of service. She also filed under irreconcilable difference, and we've only been separated since June. We plan on settling without Court , but I'm not sure how to counter file to keep that going . Thank you.
A: You really should be meeting in person with an experienced family law attorney. You already have a lot of questions and this case has just started. You can't defend a divorce case by soliciting online advice every step of the way. Even though she handed the Complaint to you, you can still sign an Acceptance of Service, noting the correct date when you received the Complaint. The 30 days comes into play if you are bot actually served with the Complaint within 30 days, not when you sign and file the Acceptance. The applicable time limit for responding to the Complaint ends right before the final decree is entered, although you'd be extremely foolish to wait until then. I can't answer your question about the rounds for divorce. Please consult with an attorney in person.
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