questions & answers

Question: My husband was deported to the UK after a conviction for domestic violence. He cannot return to the US. Our marriage is not legal there. Therefore he is not married. Do I have to get a divorce? And if so, how can I serve him when I don't know where he is?

Answer: This website is for general information only. To find out how the law applies to a specific situation, please contact an attorney directly. To file for divorce, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months and in the county for three months. A form called a petition must be filed with the clerk of the superior court in the county where the person who files lives. A summons must then be issued by the court. The summons is a paper stating that one spouse is filing for divorce. The person filing must have someone 18 years or older personally deliver all copies of all papers to his or her spouse. If the spouse cannot be located, the judge may approve of an alternate way to notify the person. You may find more information regarding divorce in Arizona by checking out the article titled "Things you should know about divorce in Arizona." http://azlawhelp.org/documents/azlawhelp_Divorce.pdf