Divorce records from all over the U.S are sometimes difficult to find online. They are another hidden gem of information that can assist you in advancing your family history and genealogy research.
What can you find in these records? Obviously the dates and location of the divorce proceeding, the date and location of the marriage, the woman's maiden name, names of minor children, and the reason for the divorce. The reason can not only provide another part of your ancestor's story, but also may lead to more clues, especially in the case of desertion, where you may be able to find the location that the "deserting" party moved to.
WARNING: Some of the information in the Divorce Petitions may be difficult to read. There may be shocking claims, especially related to your ancestors' physical and emotional cruelty, or other behavior. Be prepared.
In most cases, I did not include the links to County Courts, where most divorce records are now processed and the documents held. But these divorce documents for most states are partially held in either state archives or county clerk records. So you may wish to avail yourself of these county clerk an court archives, especially those that can be searched online.
Note: Please be aware that if you find a desired divorce record in an index, that the holder of the actual materials (e.g., archive, county court, etc.) may charge a small fee to send you a copy of the material itself.
Note: Some of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. Make sure that you are logged in to the site, so that the collections that are browsable from anywhere will be displayed.
Below are links to the state's divorce record and index collections that are available for free online.
(Updated February, 2021; recently added links are in BOLD):
- Allegany County Divorce Decrees 1970-1971
- Anne Arundel Civil, Equity, Law, & Divorce Docket, Index 1852-1991
- Anne Arundel County Divorce Dockets 1966-1991
- Baltimore City Divorce Decrees 1972-1978
- Baltimore County Divorce Decrees 1908-1999
- Baltimore Newspapers Divorce Notices
- Calvert County Divorce Decrees 1963-1995
- Calvert County Divorces from 1826 to 1862
- Carroll County Divorce Decrees 1966-1998
- Cecil County Divorce Decrees 1973
- Cecil County Divorces (partial)
- Dorchester County Divorce Decrees 1958-1995
- Frederick County Divorce Decrees 1919-1978
- Maryland Circuit Court Case Search
- Maryland Divorces and Name Changes 1634-1867
- Queen Anne's County Divorce Decrees 1952-2007
- St. Mary's County Divorce Decrees 1910-2003
- St. Mary's County Divorce Decrees 1910-2003
- Talbot County Divorce Decrees 1908=1995
- Wicomico County Divorce Decrees 1908-1982
- Wicomico County Divorce Decrees 1908-1988
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For other Free Maryland Links, click on the category of interest:
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