Watson v. Watson

QUINCE, Judge.

Rufus S. Watson, Jr. appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion to vacate and set aside a final judgment awarding Teresa Watson one-half of his federal pension in a divorce proceeding. We reverse because the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over the appellant.

A petition for dissolution of marriage was filed in Collier County, Florida, by the wife on February 4, 1992. After an unsuccessful attempt to serve the husband at the wife’s address, the wife attempted service by publication. The notice of suit was published on four successive dates in the Naples Daily News. A…