Tracing a missing person

[Shelle02]

My friend is desperate to trace her husband who took her money and went "missing" 3 years ago. She wants a divorce but is unable to do so as you need an address to serve the papers on. Although she would love to get her money back, she is now more resigned to just accepting a divorce.

He is making it hard to find him, and is not registed on the electoral roll. Are there any free ways of finding a missing relative, or should she lose even more money by paying a specialised firm?

[dot.hawkes]

she should write a letter to him explaining what she is intending to do, then seal it and address the envelope to him on the front (minus address). then write another letter to the national insurance office in (I think* Newcastle) tell them the problem and give then his date of birth and national insurance number if she still has it. they will have a record of his latest contributions and his current address and send the letter on to him.

[RobertBurden]

Hmmm, difficult. A private eye could definately find him and save you some work. There's got to be some goverment department that could help you. I mean I know how to get birth certificates and stuff like that, try and find his last know whereabouts go from there..

Rob

[Englishbird]

Are there any family links, is he really missing, ie are there friends that he will have kept in touch with, is there a general area that she knows he's in? If he's not on the electoral role it's difficult to find him online. I'd start with friends and family, if she tells them that she doesn't want to cause trouble for him, she just wants a divorce and she assures them that she wont tell him where she got his address from they might take pity and help.

Once she has an area or an address, I'd get a friend and go and stake it out. All you need is one sighting to confirm where he is.

The money aspect is difficult, I've been through something similar, but probably not as bad. If she can find him she can press criminal charges relating to the money. If it's an amount she can live without, i'd walk away. As it just means he's in her life for longer than he has to be.

Good luck x

[cookiemonsta]

Try the DVLA, if she can remember the car and registration. www.dvla.gov.uk look under the Freedom of Information Act.

[Murielmci]

The Salvation Army can often help.

[Murielmci]

In Scotland we have somthing called "posting on the walls". You can ask your local court to put up an ad and this is seen as giving due notice so any subsequent court action is valid. (this is not well known but is correct) Check with the county court you might have something similar. Again in Scotland an advert in a national newspaper can be sufficient, again check with the court what would they accept as reasonable attempt to contact.

[Murielmci]

Sorry to keep posting but I keep thinking of something new. Why does she want a divorce?

If she wants to remarry then fine but think of the proverbial bus! (which he might fall under) Does he have a pension? does he have insurance? She would be better off as a widow than a divorcee. State pension payable etc etc.

Thid id worth a thought!

[Shelle]

No probs about keep posting answers! Salvation army specifically mention on their website that they wont trace a relative in order to serve divorce papers!! Obviously my friend is not the only one!

She simply hates the thought of being legally married to him which is why she is desperate to divorce him. Interesting thought about her being a widow, but I wonder how she would find out and thus come into pension etc?

She is currently looking into the DVLC aspect to see if she can get any joy that way.