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If you can't find your spouse, think they will ignore the papers, are uncertain
of whether they still have the same address, or are uncertain of what they will
do when they recieve the papers, you need a default divorce. In a default
divorce we serve them and wait to see if they respond. If they respond and
consent to be over with it, then thats fine. We conclude the divorce.
If they otherwise don't respond then we can go in and conclude the divorce based
on no response. I can do these even when the other spouse is out of state
or overseas. You do not have to have been married in Washington. I have
even done them where there are children involved. Sometimes summons by publication is
used and other times, when you have a last address for them, you can serve them by mail.
Usually this saves you about $175 in publication costs. I go into Court (often times twice) in these
cases so the fee is higher than other no-contest cases. You won't be asking for property in these cases.
My experience over the years has been that 95% of the people don't respond.
Please call with questions as I answer questions regarding default divorces for free as well.
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