DIVORCED ANCESTORS

Divorce records

If you are looking for records of a divorce, try to find out the names of the petitioner and respondent and the approximate date of the divorce. This is because divorce records are incomplete, and the likelihood of finding them depends on when the divorce took place. From 1858-1927 almost 100% of case files survive; from 1928-1937 about 80%; and after 1937 less than 2%. Before 1858 a full divorce required a private act of Parliament, so the opportunity was only available to a few people.

Divorce records are kept in a variety of archives. The National Archives holds divorce case files from England and Wales dating from 1858 to 1937. You can search the online Catalogue by name of petitioner, respondent or co-respondent for successful and unsuccessful divorce suits.

For more information, see advice from The National Archives on: Looking for records of a divorce