Husband skipped town before I could file. Now what?

[Miso]

I was trying to file both a DV injunction and start the divorce paperwork over the weekend, and my husband jumped on a plane and left the state. (1) Can I still do a simplified divorce (we have no property that is worth anything and no children), (2) for my safety, I am moving from the house we both rent. What am I supposed to do with his stuff? I am a college student and cannot afford an attorney. I was planning to use legal aid services.

Thanks

[Attorney Howard Iken]

If he permanently left town you probably could dispose of his property. A safer way would be to place everything in storage for 6 months, and then dispose of it.

In a Simplified Divorce you both need to be there for the final hearing. So that may not be what you want. In the other forms, only one side needs to be a the final hearing.

You will have to serve him by publication. That involves placing a classified ad in a local publication for 4 weeks.

Attorney Howard Iken