What can I do if my wife took off over 3 years ago and I can’t find her to get a divorce?

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What can I do if my wife took off over 3 years ago and I can’t find her to get a divorce?

Asked on November 4, 2015 under Family Law, Colorado

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

In a situation such as you have here, there is a legal remedy known as "divorce by publication". Before any legal action can be taken against someone, they must be given notice of the action so that they have an opportunity to appear in court and explain their side.  
A "divorce by publication" allows a spouse to be served notice of the divorce action via a newspaper notice. The filing spouse (i.e. the "petitioner) must make a dilegent effort to search for their missing spouse (i.e. the "respondent"). If they can present proof to the court that they made diligent efforts to uncover the location of the missing spouse, then the petitioner will be allowed to serve the repondent by publishing notice of the divorce in a newspaper instead of having to personally serving them (the judge will instruct the petitioner which newspaper to use; it will be in one that is in the area of the respondent's last known location). The respondent wiil then have 30-60 days to file an "answer". If they fail to do so, the petitioner can file a request that a "default divorce" be granted. As a general rule, it is granted upon the terms requested by the petitioner, although the respondent will be given a certain time period in which to appeal.
At this point you should consult directly with a divorce attorney in your area; they can best advise you of your rights and/or responsibilities under specific state law.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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