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September 20, 2021

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On behalf of The Powell Law Firm

| Divorce

I Cannot Find My Spouse in the Middle of My Divorce

Our Pearland, Texas divorce attorney explains how not being able to find a spouse impacts divorce proceedings in Brazoria County.

Making the difficult decision to end your marriage and filing for a divorce in Brazoria County is never easy. While there may be personal issues between you that make any interaction challenging, there are still important matters pertaining to money and property that must be resolved before a final divorce order can be issued. What happens if you cannot find your spouse in the middle of a divorce? Our Pearland TX divorce attorney explains your options.

When a Spouse Cannot be Located During Divorce Proceedings

While some couples facing divorce are able to remain on relatively amicable terms, other cases are more contentious. Your spouse may even attempt to avoid the situation altogether by disappearing either before or after a divorce petition is filed.

When filing for a divorce through the Brazoria County Family Court, you are required to provide legal notice to your spouse, which allows them to respond to your claims and make their own assertions. This can be done either through the local sheriff’s offices or a professional process server and may involve:

  • Appearing at their home;
  • Going to the business;
  • Looking for them at places they frequently visit;
  • Searching past addresses or friends and family they may be staying with.

Once formally served with a divorce petition, if they fail to respond within the time limits set the judge can issue a default judgment in your favor. However, proof of service is required. If you are unable to locate them, or if they disappear at some point during your divorce proceedings, you may be entitled to get a divorce by publication.

Divorce By Publication

Procedures for getting a divorce and serving your spouse are listed under the Texas Statutes. In cases where you cannot locate them, a divorce by publication may be an option. Documents needed include:

  • Affidavit for Citation by Publication and Diligent Search: This is a notarized statement affirming you are unable to locate your spouse and have exercised due diligence in attempting to locate them.
  • Petitioner’s Supporting Affidavit for Citation by Publication: This is a notarized statement detailing the efforts made as part of your search.
  • Service Members Affidavit: This affirms your spouse is not in the military and therefore is not protected by the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, which prevents a final divorce order being issued in a service member’s absence.
  • Statement of Evidence: This details the terms you are seeking in getting a divorce and your requests regarding the division of marital property and assets.

Once the notice is posted in a reputable publication, your spouse has 30 days to respond. If they fail to do so, a final divorce order can be issued in their absence.

Request a Consultation with Our Pearland Divorce Attorney

Having trouble locating your spouse during divorce proceedings? Reach out to The Powell Law Firm to request a consultation, call or contact our office online today.

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  • “John Powell III was very helpful through the entire process of my divorce which involved a custody fight over my 3-year-old daughter. Mr. Powell has a strong working rapport with the Brazoria County family court. He was very patient, walking me through every step, knowing what to expect from my wife's attorney. We were ultimately successful and I would highly recommend him. As for my daughter, she is doing great. She has advanced to the preschool 2 class early, she is now 3.5 and now goes to school with the 4-5 year old's. Her emotional and behavioral issues have disappeared. Thanks to Mr. Powell's hard work my daughter will have a great chance at life.”

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