In all divorce cases you have to let your spouse know that you filed a divorce case.
If you cannot find your spouse to serve him or her with the divorce papers, then you can serve "by publication." You do this by publishing a notice in the local newspaper. Each county is different and you will need to contact your county's Circuit Clerk to find out which newspaper to publish your notice in. To find out how to contact your county's Circuit Clerk, visit the Illinois Courts' website.
You can only use service by publication if:
You could not find your spouse after making good efforts to do so, and
The wife of the marriage is not pregnant
If you have to serve by publication you will not be able to get:
Maintenance
Child Support
Visitation, or
Division of your property
These issues will be "reserved" which means that the judge will not make any decisions about them when the divorce is granted. If you find your spouse later, then you can go back to court to have those issues decided. (c)
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