Legal Question in Family Law in California

You start the same way as if you saw him this morning by filing the petition and related papers. You then must make every reasonable effort to find him and have him served. If you can prove to the court that you did everything reasonably possible to find him and he has dropped off the face of the earth, then you can file a motion to serve him by publication. Once that motion is granted, you follow the rules for service by publication and file proof with the court. Once he is served, personally or by publication, then again you proceed the same as if you see him every day. If he answers, you follow the regular proceedure. If he doesn't, you get a default dissolution.