Don’t Know Your Spouse’s Location? How to Complete “Service of Process” When Seeking A Divorce In Ohio
When I am retained by a client (Husband or Wife) who is seeking a divorce from his or her spouse, one of my initial questions is: Do you know where your spouse is residing? Or, do you know where your spouse is living or working? This information is important as the spouse will need to be formally “served” with the Complaint for Divorce and associated pleadings (Financial Affidavit, Parenting Proceeding Affidavit, Family Questionnaire, and Title IV-D Application for Child Support Services). The two (2) most commonly used methods of serving a party with the necessary divorce papers are:
- Personal Service of Process: A Process Server is identified to personally go to the residence or place of employment of the Defendant and to personally deliver the divorce packet (containing all the pleadings and Summons of the Court) to the Defendant. The Process Server then notifies the Court that personal service of the Defendant has been completed or accomplished. What are the qualifications of a Process Server? The person must be eighteen (18) years or older, not a party to the case, and appointed by