DIY divorce on UK government website. Couple of questions before I start.

[katek3]

A couple of questions before I start the online divorce application on the the UK government website:

1. Can my address be kept confidential? I can't risk it being revealed to my husband. He's based abroad after being removed from the UK for domestic violence. There's a history of domestic violence (including threats to kill me and to abduct our child).
2. I'm not entirely sure of his current address/circumstances. I know he was sent back to his country of origin and I only have the address where he was living when we first met more than 10 years ago. It's his parents' address. Likewise, I only have the email address and phone number he was using when we met, these could have changed after all these years.
3. If doing the divorce myself online, where/when would I need to should my ID/marriage certificate (in the way that I'd need to show them to a solicitor if I was instructing a solicitor).
4. Once I initiate the divorce online, would I be kept updated of progress? Do you get a log-on or username where you can keep track of what's happening?
5. My husband and I have had no contact in several years and I he has nothing but contempt for me, the UK authorities, courts and so on. So, it's extremely unlikely that he's cooperate with the process, even if the divorce papers can be successfully served on him. Can I still get the divorce?

Looking forward to hearing from anyone who could answer these questions. Thank you, Kat.

I have no real idea so I'm homing that someone will come along soon who is is a better place to advise you.

However, my initial thought is that you are probably better off hiring a lawyer. I think in your circumstances (husband might not agree/ will be difficult) it'd be the safest option as you know everything will have been done as it should.

Hace you contacted any DV charities to see what they say? I think if abuse is involved, there's less red tape and divorce is easier to obtain. It's worth checking in with those to see if they can help.

Good luck!

1. Can my address be kept confidential? I can't risk it being revealed to my husband. He's based abroad after being removed from the UK for domestic violence. There's a history of domestic violence (including threats to kill me and to abduct our child).

Yes you can keep it private

2. I'm not entirely sure of his current address/circumstances. I know he was sent back to his country of origin and I only have the address where he was living when we first met more than 10 years ago. It's his parents' address. Likewise, I only have the email address and phone number he was using when we met, these could have changed after all these years.
this is your main problem, and there are two of them. Firstly you have to research the law relating to service in a foreign jurisdiction. what are the laws local to the other party that apply to service? This might get expensive. Secondly without an address you have a big problem. The solution is that he can be served at his last known address and hope he responds to an email.

3.If doing the divorce myself online, where/when would I need to should my ID/marriage certificate (in the way that I'd need to show them to a solicitor if I was instructing a solicitor).
You file a PDF of the marriage certificate - in colour

4.Once I initiate the divorce online, would I be kept updated of progress? Do you get a log-on or username where you can keep track of what's happening?
Yes. You get to log in.

5.My husband and I have had no contact in several years and I he has nothing but contempt for me, the UK authorities, courts and so on. So, it's extremely unlikely that he's cooperate with the process, even if the divorce papers can be successfully served on him. Can I still get the divorce?
See above. If he will not cooperate you will need to think laterally. Perhaps you should take detailed advice.

I would think you need expert legal advice given the circumstances.