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Answering the Divorce Petition

Quick Facts

Answers must be served within 30 days.
If you do not answer timely, then you may face serious consequences in your divorce.
A counterpetition negates the need for a separate answer.

You have 30 days to answer the divorce petition under Minnesota law, starting from the day the petition was served on you. If you have been served already, then you must call me as soon as possible.

There are consequences for failing to answer the divorce petition in a timely manner. If you do not answer the petition, then the court may accept your spouse's petition as true. If this happens, you may find yourself facing

In certain circumstances, the petitioner can serve the divorce petition by publication. In case of service by publication, the 30 days does not begin to run until the period for publication has ended.

In the case of a counterpetition to a petition for dissolution or legal separation, an answer to the counterpetition is not required. The original petitioner automatically denies each statement, allegation, and claim in the counterpetition.