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Divorce by Publication in Riverside County — when your spouse can't be found

You can get divorced in California even if your spouse has disappeared. When personal service is impossible after a genuine search, the court can order service by publication (Code of Civil Procedure §415.50): your divorce summons runs in a newspaper once a week for four weeks, and the case moves forward — with or without your spouse.

The whole process, step by step

1. File the divorce. Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110) at Riverside Superior Court — filing fee ≈ $435-$450, or ask about the FW-001 fee waiver if money is tight.
2. Try to serve your spouse properly. The court will only allow publication after real attempts at personal service fail.
3. Document a diligent search. Judges expect you to have checked: their last known addresses and job, phone numbers, relatives and friends, USPS change-of-address, DMV records, voter registration, social media, and online searches. Keep dates and results for each attempt.
4. Apply for the order. File an application and declaration of due diligence asking the court to order service by publication. Riverside Superior Court's Self-Help Center assists with the application at no charge. In the application, designate the Hemet Chronicle — adjudicated for all of Riverside County.
5. Publish. Upload the signed order and FL-110. We publish once a week for 4 consecutive weeks (Gov. Code §6064) and email your signed affidavit of publication — or e-file it with the court for $35.
6. Service is complete 28 days after the first publication. If your spouse doesn't respond within 30 days after that, you can request their default (FL-165) and finish the divorce. California's 6-month waiting period runs from the date service is complete.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get divorced in California if I can't find my spouse?

Yes. After a diligent search, Riverside Superior Court can order service by publication under CCP §415.50: the divorce summons publishes once a week for 4 weeks in an adjudicated newspaper, service is complete 28 days after the first run, and if your spouse doesn't respond within 30 days you can proceed by default.

How much does divorce by publication cost in Riverside County?

Publication is $324.50 flat at the Hemet Chronicle — all 4 required weekly runs plus the signed affidavit of publication. Add the court's filing fee (≈$435-$450, waivable with form FW-001 if you qualify) and optionally $35 for us to e-file the affidavit.

What counts as a diligent search for a missing spouse?

Courts look for documented attempts: last known addresses and employers, phone numbers, relatives and friends, USPS change-of-address inquiry, DMV and voter records, social media, and web searches. Record the date and result of every attempt in your declaration of due diligence.

How long does divorce by publication take?

Roughly 7-8 months minimum: get the publication order, publish 4 weekly runs (service completes 28 days after the first), wait 30 days for a response, request default — and California's 6-month waiting period runs from the date service is complete.

What newspaper do I publish a divorce summons in for Riverside County?

A newspaper adjudicated for the county that's most likely to give the spouse notice. The Hemet Chronicle is court-adjudicated for all of Riverside County (Case MCC2001316) — designate it in your application and order online at legals.hsjchronicle.com/order?type=summons.

The Hemet Chronicle and San Jacinto Chronicle are court-adjudicated newspapers of general circulation for Riverside County (Superior Court Cases MCC2001316 / MCC2001738). We are a newspaper, not a law firm; this page is general information, not legal advice.