Missing Spouse Process

When your spouse has disappeared, the hardest part isn’t just the absence — it’s the uncertainty. You want to move forward, but courts won’t allow divorce by publication until you’ve proven a diligent search. This proof is more than effort; it’s a sworn affidavit that tells the court, step by step, what you did to locate your spouse.

Too often, people get stuck here. They’re not sure what counts, how to document it, or how to format it for a judge. That’s where we come in.

This page goes deeper than a quick overview. We’ll explore:

• The struggles people face when trying to prove a diligent search.
  
• The problems our service solves and why it matters.
  
• Exactly what you receive from us.
  
• What steps you’ll still need to complete yourself.
  
• The timeline for our part of the process.
  
• How we reduce risk and increase your chance of moving forward smoothly.
  
• Why speed, accuracy, and compliance matter more than ever.
  

The Struggles People Face

When your spouse is missing, it’s not just the emotional weight — it’s the legal maze that makes this process intimidating. Most people don’t stall because they don’t want to act; they stall because they’re afraid of doing it wrong.

• “I don’t know what counts as a diligent search.”
  Courts expect far more than a simple online search. They want a record of multiple attempts, through different channels, with results documented.
  
• “I’m worried I’ll miss a step and get rejected.”
  Many filings are denied because the affidavit is incomplete, vague, or labeled incorrectly. Some states use different names: Diligent Search, Due Diligence, Constructive Service, Search and Inquiry. Filing the wrong form can set you back weeks.
  
• “I don’t have the time or resources to chase leads.”
  Trying old addresses, contacting relatives, searching public records, and documenting each step is overwhelming if you’re already managing work, family, and stress.
  
• “What if the judge thinks I didn’t try hard enough?”
  An affidavit that feels sloppy or inconsistent raises questions. Judges want clear, chronological evidence that you did your due diligence.
  

Our service is designed to take these burdens off your shoulders and translate them into a clean, professional record the court understands.

What We Solve for You

• Complexity Across States
  ‍Different states, different terms, different rules. We draft affidavits that use the terminology your court expects.
  
• Documentation Gaps
  ‍Judges won’t accept “I tried” without proof. We integrate investigator findings, your prior efforts, and our diligence execution into a full affidavit package.
  
• Risk of Rejection
  ‍Clerks often reject affidavits missing dates, unclear wording, or without notarization. We prepare affidavits that are sworn, notarized, and formatted to court standards.
  
• Speed vs. Accuracy
  ‍DIY attempts can take weeks, only to be denied. Our system produces a court-ready affidavit in 7–9 business days, so you don’t lose momentum.
  

What You Receive From Us

You don’t just get a form — you get a complete affidavit packet covering the first two phases of divorce by publication:

• Licensed Investigator’s Report (PDF)
  - A professional search using nationwide databases.
  - Verifiable evidence of efforts to locate your spouse.
• State-Specific Affidavit Draft
  - Written in the exact style/label your jurisdiction requires.
  - Includes both the investigator’s results and your own prior efforts.
  
• Filing & Publication Checklist
  - Plain-English instructions and, where available, sample forms.
  - Guidance on filing with the clerk and arranging publication.
  
• Notarization Options
  - Online notarization (where permitted) via BlueNotary.com with a secure AI identity verification, followed by a live notary session.