Short answer. Article 242 of the Family Code has the court notify the other spouse of the petition, ordering them to show cause why it should not be granted by the date set for the initial conference. That notice comes with a copy of the petition and is served at the spouse's last known address.
What the law says
Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall notify the other spouse, whose consent to the transaction is required, of said petition, ordering said spouse to show cause why the petition should not be granted, on or before the date set in said notice for the initial conference. The notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the petition and shall be served at the last known address of the spouse concerned.
Family Code, Article 242 — Notice and Show-Cause Order to the Other Spouse. Read the full provision →
The court, not you, sends the notice
Article 242 places responsibility for notifying your spouse on the court itself, not on you personally. It provides that upon the filing of the petition, the court shall notify the other spouse, whose consent to the transaction is required, of said petition. Once you file, it becomes the court's task to see that your spouse is formally told about the petition, rather than leaving that notification to informal contact between the two of you.
The notice orders a response, not just an announcement
This is not a passive courtesy notice. The article states the court is ordering said spouse to show cause why the petition should not be granted, on or before the date set in said notice for the initial conference. Your spouse is being put on formal notice that they need to respond with reasons if they object, and a deadline tied to the initial conference is built into that notice from the start.
What has to accompany the notice
The article specifies what the notice must include: the notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the petition. Your spouse is not simply told that a petition exists — they receive the petition itself, so they know exactly what is being asked of the court and can prepare a response to the actual claims and requests it contains, not just a general summary.
Where the notice is sent
Service is tied to a specific address under this article: the notice shall be served at the last known address of the spouse concerned. That means the accuracy of the address you provide when filing matters directly — the court's obligation under this article is to serve at the last known address, so an outdated or incorrect address can affect whether your spouse actually receives the notice this provision requires.