I’m in a bit of a tough situation. I haven’t seen my spouse in almost 15 years, and they are homeless and often in jail. We got married in Las Vegas and lived in Missouri, but I’ve been in Massachusetts for the last five years. The thing is, I don’t know where my spouse is, but I can see them popping up in the online court systems. They have a history of being abusive and dangerous. I really want to get a divorce, but I’m worried they’ll make my life miserable if they find out where I am. Is there a way to do this with minimal contact?
I went through a similar process. My lawyer sent the divorce papers to a known relative’s address and also published the notice in a local paper in their last known city.
Definitely get a lawyer to handle the filing for you. It’s crucial to block anyone who isn’t supportive during this process.
You can file for divorce while stating your spouse’s whereabouts as unknown. You can also file a motion for alternative service, which allows you to serve them through publication. You’ll need to explain all your efforts to find them. The court will guide you on how to serve them, likely through a newspaper in Missouri since that’s where they were last known to live.
@Kingsley
That sounds like a plan. I appreciate the info about filing a motion for alternative service. I’ll look into that.
My brother had a similar issue and ended up filing under abandonment in Massachusetts. It might be worth considering.
Storm said:
My brother had a similar issue and ended up filing under abandonment in Massachusetts. It might be worth considering.
That’s an interesting approach. I’ll think about it. Thanks for sharing that.
You might want to reach out to a local attorney to see about public notice options for divorces in your area. They could provide some guidance.
Andi said:
You might want to reach out to a local attorney to see about public notice options for divorces in your area. They could provide some guidance.
Good idea. I’ll definitely look for a local attorney who can help me navigate this.
Check if your state allows you to post an ad in a newspaper indicating that you’re seeking a divorce. I did something similar in Indiana. I had to run an ad for three weeks, and then I filed a motion to get my divorce granted.
@Mika
That sounds like a feasible approach. I’ll see if Massachusetts has similar requirements.
You’ll want to know your local court rules for using a PO box or any address service. If you have no kids, you might be able to file without giving your home address.
Ember said:
You’ll want to know your local court rules for using a PO box or any address service. If you have no kids, you might be able to file without giving your home address.
Thanks for that tip. I’d like to keep my address private as much as possible.