How do I get a divorce if I cant locate my spouse?

Question

I'm in the military and I've been separated from my spouse for the past three years. I'm either always deployed or attending a some type of military training, which made it difficult to keep track of her whereabouts once we separated. I'm trying to find the fastest and cheapest method to legally divorce her, so that I can move on with my life. Only thing that I can provide on her is our last known address together, and I'm currently stationed in Washington state. Thanks

Answer 1

You can get divorced by "Notice of Publication." The courts have to publicly notify her by publication in the newspaper either where you think she may be or the place where she was last residing. Just because you can't find her is reason enough for a divorce because she is abandoning the marriage.

Answer 2

You have to post the little petition for divorce in the local newspaper in the last town you know that she lived in and it needs to run in it for something like 3 days or 3 weeks. It's probably the later. It doesn't matter which paper so pick the cheapest one.
Then on the divorce papers you will mark that you don't know her whereabouts and posted the petition in whatever newspaper. You can get directions on how to do all this at the library, that's where I got all the info for mine but that was 20 years ago, now I assume you can do all that on line.

If things get to complicated, and they really can, just hire a paralegal for a few hundred. They have done divorce papers hundreds of times and know what they are doing and will complete them for you and cost hundreds less than attorneys.
Good luck and congratulations with you new life!

And on a personal note, thank you for serving in our military!!

Answer 3

Go to your state's website and download the divorce forms. It's free. Then file them. When you file you will get a court date. Make copies of the stamped papers and send them to her last known address by certified mail, her parent's address and place an ad in the newspaper for the town in which you think she resides (usually her last known address). Then show up at your court hearing and if she doesn't show, prove to the judge that you've tried to locate her with your proof and the judge will grant you a divorce. Not only is it cheap, but it's pretty simple too.

Answer 4

You need to find a lawyer who will instruct you on how to initiate the proceedings. A friend of mine went through this, and had to print legal notices in several newspapers and make attempts to contact her at the last known addresss, and after a certain period (something like 30 days) without being able to find her, a divorce was granted. But you need a lawyer to start all that for you.

Answer 5

Go to the Courthouse nearest to you, in the Clerk of Court's office ask for a Divorce packet. You can fill it out by your self and with the help of a computer. It's what I did, anyways get it notarized and all that and go back to the court house and file for divorce. They give you the copies that has to be sent to your wife. You call the Sheriff's office in last known county that you know that she lived in and explain to them your situation and that you will be faxing them the divorce papers to be delivered to your wife. You will need to keep a check on calling that Sheriffs Office back every couple days to see when they have been delivered. You then will get a "conformation" in your mail and you take that card back to the court house for a court date. It takes 30 days to get a court date ONCE you have received that postcard in the mail. After the Sherriff's Dept has made 3 attempts to deliver it to her and they have all failed, it will be published in that town's newspaper, saying attention such-n-such, you have a court date set for 10-10-06. (it will be in the section with the deaths and such-NOT front page lol) Well, she probably won't even read it, and she probably wont show up for court, and that's fine. She does NOT need to be there for you to get the divorce. Good Luck

Answer 6

If you have her last know address then try that.Also you can run a add in the local paper where you think she is for 4 weeks. If she isn't found they will grant you a divorce. Think about running it in the paper where her family lives. Good luck maybe you can find her , if not run the adds 4 weeks and go from there .

Answer 7

My Friend went to court and after a 3 year seperation, its considered abandonment, so she got the Divorce, especillaly if youcant find them,his ex called and he was like ,"we are Divorced"she could not beleive it! Good Luck

Answer 8

Have the lawyer you hired track her down. He should be able to do all the work that's what your paying him for. Even if you get deployed or get orders for another base he should still be able to do the paperwork. You should make sure the lawyer is in the state where you have legal residence. Good Luck

Answer 9

Couldn't you get the marriage annuled based on "neglect, and abandonment", or something like that? My uncle basically disappeared off the face of the earth, and my aunt had to get a divorce, because she was in love.

It's all very confusing...

Ever consider speaking to a lawyer?

They could probably help you more than Yahoo! Answers could...

Answer 10

You have to run an ad in the news paper in which you guys used to live together, you can also go to your local court and ask for the pro per clinic they will tell you what you need to do and the clinic is free. best of luck.