SEVERE Domestic Violence from immigrant husband. I am the u.s. citizen wife. Few questions...

You can check with attorneys in your state what makes a valid service of process. In general, a party to a lawsuit cannot be the one serving the documents. That is, you cannot serve your divorce papers on your husband.

In general, a defendant can be personally served anywhere the documents can be handed to the defendant. Thus, while your husband is in court, any person who is not a party to your divorce case can serve your husband. In WA, the persons who can serve your husband would include your attorney. You can check what the rules are in your state.

If your husband is convicted of or plead guilty to a charge of domestic violence against you, he likely is subject to deportation. If he is deported, your obligations under the I-864 would terminate. The other times when your obligations end are listed in the Form I-864.

You should review your situation with attorneys in your state.

It is not enough to be ordered deported to terminate your obligation on the I-864. He must not only be ordered deported but actually be phsyically deported. Sounds strange I know but it is true. If you don't divorce he will need you to file a joint I-751. He can only file an I-751 by himself if he is actually divorced unless he applies for one of the other waivers. I you know his alien number you could send a letter to USCIS but often times they look at this as the bitter spouse just writing a letter. Remember that an I-864 is a contract that you made with the US government and it survives divorce.