MEXICO: Divorce Tycoon

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Where the defendant does not want to be divorced, and refuses to sign power of attorney, the Sonora law requires a personal service of a copy of the petition on the defendant; and in case he or she will not accept service — a confirmation of the facts alleged must be obtained by the taking of depositions from two witnesses at their place of residence.

Señor del Toro mentions darkly that although he has obtained several hundred decrees in Sonora courts in the past four years, the only attempt to attack their validity in this country was recently made in the court of famed Judge Joseph Sabath of Chicago who upheld the Sonora-del Toro decree.

Sonora divorces are not expensive as such things go. About $1,500 is the minimum service charge, but Señor del Toro charges some clients $10,000 or more. Thus a cheap Sonora divorce would cost:

Train fare from the furthest points in the U. S. to Nogales, Sonora, and return, plus two days' hotel accommodation $ 300.00 A. del Toro 1,500.00 Court costs 100.00 $1,900.00

Among U. S. citizens who have obtained Sonora-del Toro divorces are: James Ben Ali (Ziegfeld tableaux) Haggin; Capt. Franck Taylor Evans (commander Brooklyn Yard); Madame Alba; Dolores del Rio.