How to Properly Serve a Complaint for Divorce

Recently, a Brooklyn woman was allowed to serve her estranged husband with a summons and complaint for divorce through the social media website Facebook. However, the practice of serving individuals online or though social media is not very common. It is usually used only when the other party to the marriage cannot be located to be served. If you are a Massachusetts’s resident who is seeking a divorce from their partner, it is important that you know the methods for serving a complaint and summons for divorce.

In Massachusetts a person seeking a divorce must serve their partner in-hand with a complaint and summons for divorce. This can be done with the help of a process server. The way a divorce complaint and summons is served can greatly impact the course of the divorce. For instance, if your partner is served a complaint and summons for divorce at work, this can create animosity between the parties that may make the divorce process more difficult. In contrast, a nice letter accompanying a complaint and summons for divorce may help keep the divorce amicable between the parties. If a person is unable to locate their partner, then the person seeking a divorce can mail a copy of the complaint and summons for divorce to the person’s last known address. A person seeking a divorce can also publish the fact that they are seeking a divorce in a newspaper designated by the Court. Finally, a person seeking a divorce may even be able to use Facebook to serve their partner if authorized by the Court.

In sum, if you are a Massachusetts resident that is seeking a divorce from your partner, then it is important that you decide how best to serve your partner a complaint and summons for divorce. Having the aid of an experienced divorce attorney will help you properly effectuate service and comfortably obtain a divorce from your partner.