This method of dissolving a marriage is employed when one party cannot be located, preventing traditional methods of serving divorce papers. It involves notifying the missing spouse through legal notices published in newspapers or other media outlets, fulfilling the due diligence requirement of the court. An example would be a situation where a spouse has abandoned the marital home and their current whereabouts are unknown despite diligent efforts to locate them.
This process is crucial for individuals seeking to legally end a marriage when direct contact with their spouse is impossible. It allows the divorce to proceed even in the absence of the other party, granting the petitioning spouse the ability to move forward with their life. Historically, it has provided a legal remedy in cases of abandonment, separation without contact, or situations where a spouse intentionally evades service.
