Divorce and Genealogy
from a National Archives research guides :- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=53
Provides information on divorce after 1858 when the law changed to permit
divorce through the courts instead of an act of parliament.
Certified copies of decrees nisi and absolute
If you need legal proof of a divorce in any court, from 1858 to the present day,
contact the Principal Registry of the Family Division, Decree Absolute Section,
First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP (020 7947 7015). For a
fee, they will access a union index to the registered court copies of decrees
absolute for you, and either provide a certified copy of the information
themselves (if the divorce was granted by the Supreme Court) or arrange for a
certified copy to be sent to you from the relevant county court. If the divorce
took place within the last 5 years, you can also contact the county court where
it took place for a cheaper service. If you want information on the cause of the
divorce, ask for the decree nisi as well. 2005 cost was 21 pounds - and all you
get is the certificate of a decree absolute, no details of the case other than
the names involved.
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The page has suggestions re searching like using J77 in the catalogue
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http://www.findmypast.com under
the category "Marriages" have an index (J78) to the
surviving divorce case files that are held at TNA Kew in the series J77. The
operative dates are 1858-1903.
Make sure you read the instructions before spending credits or taking out a subscription for just tracing the divorce - it might be better to employ a researcher see Researchers - suggestions for employing someone for UK� research
From 2013 Ancestry has UK, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1911
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My experience is that until 1920s few people had "legal" divorces
When a breakdown a man might just go off and a woman might live with another man
using his surname.
When children went with her they might appear in census under their original
surname or mother's new name - even then they may go back to original surname
when they marry etc but they may continue to use the new surname.
Note: because you find someone living with another "spouse" it does not mean
they committed bigamy.
Return to PRO National Archive etc