What are the steps I have to do to get a divorce by placing an ad in the newspaper? What type of newspaper should I post it in, a local or regular national one?

You can't basically obtain a divorce by placing an ad in the newspaper. I believe this method is used only if you were abandoned for a number of years and haven't seen or heard from your spouse in that time. You may still want to consult a lawyer regarding the legal steps of doing this and what is involved. I would suggest a national paper if you don't know exactly where he is. I would investigate the ads in the paper to see how the ads are worded, but I bet you will not find very many if none at all.

A divorce is granted by a court and only a court. The ad is only used to show that you attempted to contact the other party and failed.

If you don't want to hire an attorney. Ask the court if there is someone who can help you.

Welcome to AMHD. I just want to say it again: you must file for a divorce in the court where you live or where your spouse last lived. The part about the newspaper is that the defendant (spouse) is entitled to notice and this is usually obtained by 'service' by a sheriff or process server, or in some instances by 'waiver of service'. You need to make certain this is done right; otherwise your next marriage may be invalid because you never properly divorced.