INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you know your spouse has retained an attorney, you can contact him and ask if a divorce has been filed. However, the attorney has a duty of confidentiality to his client and is under no obligation to give you any information. If the answer is "no" or evasive, keep searching in order to verify whether a divorce has been filed.  If the answer is "yes," you have several options. The first is to contact an attorney of your own and let her deal with your spouse on your behalf. Next is to deal directly with his attorney. If you don't have children and very little property, the divorce maybe be as simple as arranging a meeting to sign agreements. Remember that while your spouse's attorney may be very nice and helpful, he represents your spouse and his interests, not you. If are feel uncomfortable or pressured, back off and contact your own attorney. You have a right to copies of all documents and time to review them outside the attorney's office. This will depend on your individual situation. If your relationship with him is safe, meaning no history of domestic violence, sometimes the direct approach is the best. If your relationship with his family is cordial, a phone call to a parent or sibling may tip you to the truth. Check the social media pages for your spouse, his closest friends, and family. Also run an online of search of your spouse's name and "divorce." You may pick up an online docket or catch someone gossiping. Be very careful and verify you have found your spouse. In informal forums, people may use nicknames, odd spellings, and not use full names. However, it still gives you a place to start. Court clerks will speak to you over the phone, but in large counties they are very busy and may be brusque or not check the records thoroughly. It is better to go to the courthouse in person.  Most courthouses have a public records computer terminal. You can search by your name or the name of your spouse. Check them carefully and get the right file. The documents can usually be printed for a small fee. Ask the court clerk's office for help. The counter clerk can look records up for you and confirm whether a divorce has been filed. If so, you can get copies of the documents for a small fee. If your spouse has moved to another county, you can contact that courthouse. The process is the same, you can contact them in person or by phone. You can also send a records request by mail. You will need to send a letter with both parties' full legal names and birth dates. It is also good to include the last four digits of the Social Security numbers to cut down on the possibility of duplicate records. There may be a fee for this service. Contact the court clerk's office to find out the cost and how to send payment with your written request. If you do not have an address for your spouse, you can call, visit, or send written requests to multiple counties where you believe your spouse may be living. This is more time-consuming, but may be the only way if you do not have an address. One duty of the county sheriff is to act as process server for legal documents. If your spouse is local, in another county, or even another state, they may have sent the divorce documents to the sheriff to serve on you. This is very common because it is economical and easy to arrange.  If you work odd hours or travel, the sheriff may have been trying to contact you. If you find out the sheriff has divorce papers for you, arrange to pick them up as soon as possible. Avoiding service doesn't stop the divorce. If you and your spouse have been separated for a long time, or you have moved, the court may have allowed your spouse to effect service via publication in the local legal notice newspaper. Every county in the United States has at least one newspaper designated for publication of legal notices.   Start with the most likely counties first. Where you live and where your spouse lives. Expand your search from there. Some states has searchable databases of legal notices. Others will require that you contact the newspaper by phone or in writing. Whether you want to hire an attorney to continue your search for a divorce filing or a private investigator to track down your ex so you can ask him or her if a divorce was ever filed, hiring a professional may be a good idea.

SUMMARY: Contact your spouse's attorney. Confront your spouse and family. Conduct an online search. Contact your local courthouse. Contact the courthouse where your spouse lives. Make requests in multiple counties. Contact your local sheriff's office. Search legal publications. Hire a professional.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: These are the people who love and care about you and will be the most honest. Whatever emptiness you have can be filled by the friends and family who will provide you comfort and confidence. It is important to balance your life between work, fun, and family.  Talking with people you love and trust is a good way to relieve stress, think positive, and take your mind off of work and other pressing issues. Regardless of how busy your weekly schedule is, take one day of the week to dedicate to friends and family. Your body and mind will appreciate it. Family and friends also provide companionship, camaraderie, and happier encounters that reduce feelings of loneliness and stress. Communicating with people who enjoy similar activities creates a sense of belonging and promotes mental health.  Join a gym, book or card club, a sports team, or an evening walk group, to not only enjoy physical and mental exercise but also to get out of the house. Cultivate friendships with intelligent, educated, and experienced people. These friendships will produce stimulating conversations on a variety of topics exposing you to new ideas, perspectives, and understandings, which is a good mental exercise. You can locate these clubs and organizations in many places such as online, the classified section of the newspaper, or through friends and family members. Participating in volunteer activities has shown to increase one’s well-being, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Volunteering often benefits the community, giving you a sense of unity, accomplishment, and a positive outlook on life.  Volunteering does not have to be a major undertaking. Instead, help out an elderly neighbor get groceries, shovel the driveway in winter for a single mother, or plant a community garden to promote the health of others. Biologically, the side effect of making social connections through volunteering is the release of the hormone oxytocin, which is associated relaxation, trust, and psychological stability.

SUMMARY:
Connect with friends and family. Socialize with people who share similar interests. Volunteer in your community.