How long do I have to post an ad in the newspaper for it to be considered abandonment so I can get divorced? He refuses to sign any papers or even file. I don't have the money to hire an attorney. We do have a daughter but she is living with his sister and she currently has guardianship so custody is not an issue. Can someone please help me? We have been separated since 2004

You should ask the clerk's office just where this ad needs to be published and for how many times. Usually it needs to be published so many times and proof of the ad needs to be sent to the clerk's office. Each state is different so please check with the local Clerk of Court's office for the particulars.

A lawyer in FL recently stated to a friend of mine that she needed to run the ad for 6 weeks. Each community will have a paper that is designated for this.

If you know where he lives posting in the paper does nothing. You have him legally served with divorce papers. He isn't required to sign them or respond if the service of the papers is legal. Posting an ad in the paper only comes into play if you do not know where someone lives and have no way to contact him. I would venture to guess that his sister knows where he lives.