Is It Possible Sue For Divorce Nigeria While Abroad?

[godsrule 7]

Hi everyone. I want to know if its possible to petition for a divorce in Nigeria while the petitioner is living abroad. Does it matter if the petitioner is not present? Please I will be glad to know about this. Thanks for your response in advance.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Why not divorce here ? You can usually petition anywhere you have legal residence. Are you married ? Your profile says K1

[godsrule 7]

Thank you for the response NigeriaorBust. I am asking the question on behalf of someone. She is a USC and lives in the states and wants to know if she can file for divorce while she is in America. The husband lives in Nigeria and kinda making it difficult for her. She wants to know if she can get a lawyer to serve the husband papers of divorce. I need answers guys.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

In normal divorce cases you need proof of service to proceed. Usually this can be done by a disinterested 3rd party, by a server like a sheriff, or by certified mailing where the served person signs for it. Is the spouse agreeable to the divorce ? IF so he can send an acknowledgement of service to her, In rare cases you can use public notice,

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Thank you for the response NigeriaorBust. I am asking the question on behalf of someone. She is a USC and lives in the states and wants to know if she can file for divorce while she is in America. The husband lives in Nigeria and kinda making it difficult for her. She wants to know if she can get a lawyer to serve the husband papers of divorce. I need answers guys.

Have her file here and use the public notice route. Nigerian newspapers are online now.

[LoveNigarmostyle 164]

http://www.vanguardngr.com Being one newspaper online. Yes, he would need to be served, but a public notice abroad should be sufficient if the person doesn't agree to the divorce or refuses to sign the proof of service.

She can file here and depending on the state she is from and the time she has to wait to be granted the divorce might vary but she should not have an issue to receive it within a period of 6 months or so. If she can she should contact an attorney and go for a consultation just to understand what is involved. Most divorce attorneys do free consultations.

Good luck!

[godsrule 7]

Thank u everyone for the useful responses. My friend will follow the advices.Thank you LoveNigermoststyle and Gowon. You guys are the best. God bless.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

And if you need someone to physically mail from Nigeria, I'll be on the ground in a few weeks. If that makes any difference once you talk to a Barrister.

[LoveNigarmostyle 164]

Thank u everyone for the useful responses. My friend will follow the advices.Thank you LoveNigermoststyle and Gowon. You guys are the best. God bless.

You are welcome!

[livindadream 156]

I had to divorce my Nigerian husband a year after he went MIA after marrying me in the US. Since I had no idea where he was living, he changed his phone number and stopped responding to my emails, IM's etc, I had to go the public notice route for the last town i knew he was in (difference was he was in the US)....I also had to mail something to his last known address and then bring the return to sender/undeliverable mail, unopened to the court to prove he did not live there anymore. Not sure if they would require that for someone living abroad. Because the court did not know if he had returned back to Nigeria (of course, that was foolish of them to even think), they made me show proof that I tried to reach family members back in Nigeria via email to know his whereabouts. It is a longgg process but it will end one day!

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

tribune.com.ng is down the street from me.

[godsrule 7]

Thank u very much Mr. Gowon. I think she has taken care of it. Are you in Nigeria at the moment? I hope your Iyawo is fine? God bless the both of you.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

I'm still stateside but will be on the ground next month.

Iyawo picked up her medical result today from Lagos.

Thanks for asking.