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.
Below, listed by state are links to divorce records and indexes available for free online.
(Updated September, 2019; recently added links are in BOLD)
Delaware
District of Columbia
- (None yet)
Maryland
- 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
- Carroll County Divorce Decrees 1966-1998
- Cecil County Divorce Decrees 1973
- 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
New Jersey
- (None yet)
New York
Pennsylvania
- Allegheny County, Marriage license dockets 1885-1905, 1937-1950, Index 1885-1925, some Divorces
- Bedford County Divorce Record Index
- Berks County Docket Search
- Chester County Divorce Records Index, 1804-1902
- Columbia County Divorce Index
- Cumberland County Divorce Records, 1810-1905
- Eastern District Divorce Papers, 1786-1815
- Montour County Common pleas docket, 1850-1907
- Pennsylvania, County Marriages (some divorces), 1885-1950
- Philadelphia, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania Publications, some Divorces
- Pittsburgh Area Newspapers Divorce Index
Virginia
- Franklin County Chancery Order Books, 1831-1865
- Franklin County Chancery Papers, ca. 1860-1950
- Hardy County Chancery Order Books, 1831-1929
- ​Hardy County Chancery Book, 1831-1862
- Isle of Wight, Court Records, 1773-1909
- Nansemond County Chancery Order Books, 1866-1878, 1895-1912
- Nelson County Chancery Order and plea Books, 1831-1908
- Roanoke County Chancery Papers, ca. 1836-1900
- Roanoke Chancery Order Book, v. A, 1884-1886
- Roanoke Chancery Order Books, 1884-1900
- Rockingham County Chancery Order and Minute Books, 1831-1903
- Rockingham County Chancery Order Book, 1870-1873
- Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988
- Westmoreland County Chancery Order Books, 1831-1856, 1905-1924
West Virginia
- Berkeley County Chancery Orders, 1831-1926
- Boone County Chancery Orders, 1865-1927
- Cabell County Chancery Orders, 1831-1926
- Calhoun County Order Books, 1856-1975
- Clay County Order Books, 1858-1960
- Fayette County Chancery Orders, 1832-1927
- Gilmer County Order Books, 1846-1927
- Hampshire County Chancery Orders, 1831-1929
- Hardy County Chancery Order Book, 1873-1880
- Jefferson County Order Books, 1813-1872
- Lincoln County Chancery Orders, 1909-1956
- Logan County Chancery Orders, 1868-1960
- Marshall County Chancery Order Books, 1873-1906
- Mason County Chancery Orders, 1831-1929
- McDowell County Chancery Orders, 1858-1928
- Mercer County Chancery Orders, 1837-1927
- Mineral County Chancery Orders, 1866-1927
- Mingo County Chancery Orders, 1895-1960
- Monongalia County Chancery Orders, 1831-1960
- Morgan County Chancery Orders, 1831-1930
- Preston County Chancery Index : 1869-1972
- Preston County Chancery Orders, 1864-1932
- Putnam County Chancery Orders, 1848-1960
- Roane County Chancery Orders, 1856-1927
- Summers County Chancery Orders, 1874-1927
- Tyler County Chancery Orders, 1865-1929
- Wyoming County Chancery Orders, 1850-1927
For free online divorce records from other states, please visit the Divorce Records page.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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