Filing for a Fault Divorce in PA?

[Rongway]

What is the name of your state? PA

Over 10 years ago my finance and her ex supposedly got a divorce, and stopped communicating. Rather, he filed the paper's that she signed to get out of an abusive relationship; then she tried to move on with her life.

Now we are trying to get a marriage license, but have no proof of the divorce. The courts have no files of the divorce. And there is no way of finding or contacting her ex.

How does she go about filing for a divorce without him? And how much should we expect it to cost?

 

[Ohiogal]

She needs to file a complaint for divorce and serve him -- if she doesn't know where he is then after making a diligent search for him she can petition the court to serve by posting and/or publication. After that has been accomplished (normally takes 6 to 12 weeks and costs a nice little chunk of change) she will most likely have an uncontested divorce hearing and she can ask for a default judgment. She needs to read the local rules for the county she is filing in. It will cost filing fees and the amount of posting/publication. It could take anywhere from 3 months to 6 months.

 

[Rongway]

Cool.

How does she go about petitioning the court to serve? And what do you mean by "posting and/or publication"?

Is this something that we have to have a lawyer for?

 

[Rongway]

Bumping this so as to get a reply.

 

[Ohiogal]

Cool.

How does she go about petitioning the court to serve? And what do you mean by "posting and/or publication"?

Is this something that we have to have a lawyer for?

She needs to read the local rules. The courts will order her to serve either by posting and or publication meaning either or both may have to be done before a hearing will proceed. Posting is different than publication. Posting is where notice of the court hearing is posted in various stipulated areas around town. Publication is when notice is published in local papers. Both of these take several weeks in order to accomplish.