Legal Question in Family Law in California

I assume that you yourself did not serve the papers. You cannot serve papers to your own dissolution action, because you are a party. You need to have someone over the age of 18 who is not a party to the action serve the papers, and fill out a proof of service. The proof of service is filed with the court.

Normally, the time to respond is 30 days after a party is personally served with the summons and petition. This time is extended to 40 days if you used substituted service, which runs form the date of mailing.