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A few ways to find your spouse’s address

If you want to get a divorce but have become estranged from your spouse and no longer know where they live, you’re not alone. This is an extremely common problem and, whilst it’s possible to get a divorce without knowing where your spouse lives, it’s much, much easier to proceed when you’re in possession of this information. So, before you go down this route, try these steps first:

Try their old contact details

Wherever possible, it always best to approach your spouse directly. So, whilst you may no longer know where they live, it’s worth trying their old phone number or email address to see if they’re still reachable. Chances are, if you’ve been separated for long enough (which, if you no longer know where each other live, is likely) they’ll probably simply agree to the divorce and you can simply send your completed documents to the court.

Ask their friends or family

If you’re attempts to contact your spouse are unsuccessful but you’re still able to contact any of their family, friends or even acquaintances, it’s worth doing so to see if they can provide you with the information you need. We know that the conversation may be uncomfortable, but it’ll make the whole process significantly easier so is certainly worth a try!

Check the electoral register

If your spouse has ever registered to vote and they still live in the UK, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find their current address by looking at the local electoral register.

You can find out where you can view this by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office (you can find yours by clicking here) and then perusing their records.

If this doesn’t reveal your spouse’s current whereabouts, there’s one option left:

Consult a private investigator

Whilst this is a last resort, it’s also highly effective. It does, however, have the potential to be extremely expensive so, if you need to instruct a private investigator/detective, make sure that they’re going to keep you updated with the charges you’re accruing regularly.

You should also ensure that they’re a member of The Association of British Investigators. This isn’t going to guarantee that they find your spouse (they could have moved abroad, for example), but it does mean that you’re going to receive a certain level of service.

If you can’t find them

If you exhaust the options described above and find that you still don’t know your spouse’s whereabouts, you’ll need to complete form D13B (otherwise known as a statement to dispense with service of a divorce petition) and submit this to the court along with the usual documents needed to file for a divorce.

If you have any other questions about the divorce process in England and Wales then click here to get in touch with us today.