Legal Question in Family Law in California

First he has to file for divorce. He then must take reasonable steps to find her - contacting old friends, using online tools, if finances allow he should even hire a PI. If he still cannot locate her, and can prove to the court he has exhausted all reasonable means of finding her, the court will allow him to serve her by publishing notice in an approved newspaper in the county where the case is pending. Most newspapers have a whole team that does nothing but help publish court notices in their public notices section of the classified ads. Most of the work is foreclosure notices, but you will see name changes, DBA filings, along with service of summons by publication, and other assorted legal notices scattered in there too.

I note that you are in the San Diego area. The process for obtaining service by publication is relatively simple, I usually charge about $950, plus costs, for a simple divorce.. You want to choose the right paper as the cost will vary greatly from one paper to another. If your boyfriend is low income he may be able to get service by posting the summons at the court house. Good Luck, Pat McCrary