Conference quark::human_relations

88.0. "Abandonment/Support Info" by QUARK::MODERATOR () Fri Mar 03 1995 14:31

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				Steve






    A friend is seeking info on the following situation.
    
    He has filed for divorce in probate court (MA) from his wife of 8
    years.  There are 3 minor children involved.  The situation is when
    they split over 2 years ago he only saw the children twice in the past
    2 years. In the past year he never heard from her again.  He called her
    job one day and they said she quit. He called the school system they
    were enrolled in and was told they no longer attended that school.  He
    called other local schools but they are not willing to give out any
    info.
    
    Anyway, he proceeded to file divorce papers 9 months ago for
    abandonment and cruel and abusive treatment, attempted to mail the
    papers to her last known  address and they got returned to him as she
    didn't live there anymore.  He  put a legal notice from the courthouse
    in the local newspaper for the amount  of time required by the court
    which stated if she didn't show up for court  on such and such a date,
    the proceedings would go on without her.
    
    The question is....does anyone know about how long this would take for
    a  divorce to be finalized?   Should he be prepared to wait a long time
    as there are minors involved?  How does the Mass Court system handle
    child support in this case?  Do they keep looking for her?  File
    criminal charges against her?  His first court date is coming up but
    has not been in front of the  judge up til now.
    
    She has his SSN, knows his friends, workplace, etc... but has never
    attempted to contact him or collect support for the children.  He
    believes she has left the state with a boyfriend.

These are all good questions for him to ask his lawyer.   If he doesn't have
one, he should get one immediately.

				Steve

    I remember one of my friends had to do that. She didn't know where
    her husband was. She had to run an ad in the newspaper for a number
    of days. She did get her divorce and is happily remarried.

    An attorney should be able to get access to Department of Motor
    Vehicle registration / license records.  A credit report might
    also give some clues as to her whereabouts.