Hello,
my spouse currently spends time outside the USA. He will only be back in six weeks from now.
Here is my question: In order for me to start the divorce procedures, may I possibly send the certified mail letter from the court to a foreign address in Europe, yet an address that is not the spouse’s official address of residence? And would the court accept mail correspondence that has been sent back and forth between the US and Europe?
Or should I send the certified mail to his US address and then have possibly a roommate forward the letter to Europe, have him sign, send it inofficially back to the US and then have it returned back officially within the US postal system?
This is because am trying to file the divorce while I am still living in the US myself, hence the urgency / trying to avoid delays in mailing.
You can serve a defendant at an address outside of the US. The best way to do this is to send the court complaint and civil summons to the defendant (any address that the defendant may be located) by UPS or FedEx package with the requirement that the recipient of the package (i.e. the defendant) sign for the package upon delivery.
This counts as proper service just like mailing through USPS by certified mail.
Anna Ayscue
Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh • Wake Forest
Rosen Online | Unlimited confidential access to a North Carolina attorney for $199/mo - click here
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