In today's world of high technology, you may be able to do so with the help of a good investigator. Before you bear that expense, though, check your records. For instance, you may have kept some document that has your ex's driver's license number or social-security number on it. There are many fine investigative agencies that can take such information and find your spouse nearly anywhere in the world. Or you may try contacting relatives and friends of your ex, so that he or she may be served.

Before the court may accept "service by publication", it will first want to see that you have attempted to make reasonable efforts to find your spouse. "Attempt" is key, because in the end, you have to show the court that you have tried to find your ex to get an order that allows you to publish the notice in a newspaper, according to divorce law. Once you receive that court order, you publish it. In most courts, proof of publishing the summons constitutes service. But that is just the beginning: you then need to do all the paperwork and prove up in court your case dealing with assets, liabilities, child support, child custody, etc. There are many tedious steps to go through in this process, and you must be both diligent and patient.

Stacy D. Phillips is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a founding partner of Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra, a Los Angeles family-law firm. She specializes in a diversity of complex, high-asset marital and paternity cases. She can be reached at (310) 277-7117. View her Divorce Magazine profile.