The legal consequence of the defendant's failure to appear in court is that the court will summon him, because the defendant must attend the trial in divorce cases. If the defendant fails to appear in court to participate in the proceedings after being summoned, the people's court may adopt the method of compulsory summons or judgment by default according to law.

legal ground

Article 86 of the Civil Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC)

If the addressee or his adult family members who live together refuse to receive the litigation documents, the addressee may invite the representatives of relevant grass-roots organizations or units to be present, explain the situation, record the reasons and date of refusal on the service receipt, and the addressee and witnesses shall sign or seal the litigation documents and leave them at the addressee's residence; You can also leave the litigation documents at the addressee's residence and record the delivery process by taking photos, videos, etc. , that is, as delivery.

Article 144

If the defendant refuses to appear in court without justifiable reasons after being summoned by a summons, or withdraws from court halfway without the permission of the court, he may make a judgment by default.