Asked in Divorce for Louisiana

Q: Husband refuses to be served, we've been separated for 2 years now.

I've been trying to get my husband served and he won't open the door when the deputy gets to his house, what more can we do? The court date has been rescheduled twice already because of failure to serve him. He says he is trying to get an attorney but that doesn't take 2 years. He just doesn't want to pay child support.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Douglas Lee Bryan
Douglas Lee Bryan
Answered
  • Marksville, LA
  • Licensed in Louisiana

A: There are 3 options that I can think of. (1) A private process server can be hired to attempt to serve him, (2) personal service can be attempted at his place of work (or some other place he visits frequently), or (3) if you're not sure that he's still living at the address where you're attempting service, you can allege that he's an absentee and ask the court to appoint an attorney to accept service for him. The last option would be a last resort in my opinion. It can get expensive, in that you have to pay the curator a fee ($350 or more usually) in addition to the court costs, and it would make it much harder to collect the child support.

Ellen Cronin Badeaux
Ellen Cronin Badeaux
Answered
  • Covington, LA
  • Licensed in Louisiana

A: Hire an attorney who can get a private process server appointed.

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