When a spouse has disappeared, the court requires that a diligent search be made to locate him or her. If the search is not successful, I can petition the court to permit papers to be sent to the last known address or to the address of a relative. I charge $100.00 for the search (over and above the base rate for simple divorce, and expected to be paid when the divorce is filed), and another $100.00 for the Motion for Special Service if we do not succeed in locating the defendant. Out of pocket expenses are the responsibility of the client and I require an advance deposit of $25.00 against these expenses at the time of filing. Publication costs, if any, must be fully advanced by the client.

Here is the breakdown:

• $150.00 base rate for simple divorce
• $100.00 fee for search
• $186.00 filing fee
• $ 25.00 deposit against expenses
• $461.00 NEEDED TO START

ADDITIONAL CHARGES:

• $100.00 fee for filing of special service motion
• $ 43.00 court costs for fault hearing if necessary
• $ 20.00 decree costs
• $$$$$$$ publication costs (if court requires publication)

Publication costs can be several hundred dollars, so I usually try to find an address where the papers have some chance of reaching the defendant.

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