10 Aug I’m divorcing my military husband. How can I get his Social Security number?

Q. If I have to do a military diligent search for dissolution of marriage papers because the husband has not been seen for a year, I have to prove that he is not serving in the military. However, before I can do this last part for my dissolution of marriage papers, the military form is requiring his Social Security number. How can I get that?
— Perplexed

A. We’re sorry to hear about your situation.

What you’re experiencing is correct: court rules require that diligent efforts are made in order to locate a spouse before it enters a final judgment of divorce.

Diligent efforts include performing a military records request through the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center in order to verify a spouse is not in any branch of the military service of the United States, said Jeralyn Lawrence, a family law attorney with Lawrence Law in Watchung.

“Although a Social Security number is requested in searching these records, it is not required,” she said. “You may perform a search with the individual’s name and date of birth alone.”

She said additional details such as a Social Security number, will only increase the accuracy of the search, which can be done here.

“If you are searching, you can choose the Single Record Request option and create an account,” she said. “Once an account is created, you will be able to enter the individual’s name and date of birth and will obtain an Affidavit of Military Service within seconds.”

Good luck to you.

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This story was originally published on Aug. 10, 2022.

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