Increasingly, couples in the U.S. are a combination of spouses born in America and spouses born in another country. Divorce can be a complex process under the best circumstances, but when your spouse resides in another country, the steps involved in filing for divorce can be very difficult to handle by yourself..
If your spouse is living abroad and is in a country that is a signatory to the Hague Service Convention, there are specific international guidelines that must be followed for serving divorce papers. Fortunately, you do not have to figure out this complicated process on your own. An experienced Illinois family law attorney with A. Traub & Associates can help you manage every aspect of your divorce from start to finish, providing peace of mind during this challenging time.
What is the Hague Service Convention?
The Hague Service Convention is an international treaty established to streamline the process of serving legal documents across borders. It standardizes the way divorce papers and other legal documents are delivered to parties in foreign countries, ensuring they receive proper legal notice. With over 75 member countries, the Hague Service Convention outlines specific procedures that must be followed for service to be valid. Not following these steps can lead to delays and complications, potentially resulting in a requirement to restart the service process.