In Re Marriage of Wilson

The circuit court of Kane County awarded certain property to petitioner, Betty J. Wilson. Respondent, Jay Wilson, appeals, contending that petitioner’s attempted service by publication was defective and thus the court had no jurisdiction to enter such an order. Although no appellate brief was filed by the petitioner, we may decide the merits of the appeal. First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis Construction Corp. (1976), 63 Ill. 2d 128; Haeflinger v. City of Wood Dale (1984), 129 Ill. App. 3d 674.

Petitioner failed a petition for dissolution of her marriage to respondent on December 1, 1981,…