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 October, 2019; recently added links are in BOLD)
Connecticut
- Connecticut Divorce Index, 1968-1997
- Fairfield County Divorce Papers, 1720-1799
- Fairfield County, Index for 1798-1808 & 1825-77 Divorce Judgments
- Fairfield County, Index for 1868-1941 Divorces
- Hartford County Divorce Index 1864-1929
- Hartford County Divorce Judgments Index 1798-1890
- Hartford County Divorce Papers, 1725-1849
- Litchfield (1899-1927), Tolland (1910-37), & Windham (1907-21) Counties Index for Divorces
- Litchfield County Divorce Papers, 1752-1922
- Middlesex County Divorce Papers, 1786-1797
- Middlesex County, Index for 1786-1904 Divorces
- New Haven County Superior Court Divorce Index, 1900-1922
- New Haven County Divorce Papers, 1712-1899
- New Haven County Divorce Papers, no appearance Files, 1808-1900
- New Haven County, Index for 1712-1900 Divorces
- New London County Superior Court Divorce Indexes, 1857-1974
- New London County Divorce Papers, 1719-1875
- New London, Tolland & Windham Counties, Divorces 1719-1910
- Tolland County Divorce Papers, 1787-1910
- Windham County Divorce Records 1726-1907
- Windham County Divorce Papers, 1726-1907
Maine
- Androscoggin County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Aroostook County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Cumberland County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Franklin County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Hancock County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Hancock County Ellsworth American Recent Divorces
- Kennebec County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Knox County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Maine Divorce Records, 1799-1903
- Oxford County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Penobscot County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Washington County Divorce Index pre-1892
- Washington County Supreme Judicial Court Records, 1821-1892
- York County Divorce Index pre-1892
Massachusetts
- Berkshire County Divorce Record Indexes, 1847-1940
- Berkshire County Divorce Records, 1887-1916
- Berkshire County, Divorce Docket Books 1888-1927
- Bristol County Divorce Records, 1887-1908
- Bristol County, Docket Books for Divorce Records, 1909-1918
- Franklin County, Divorce Records 1872-1933
- Hampden County Superior Court Records, 1894-1916
- Hampden County Court Dockets for Divorce proceedings, ca. 1871- ca. 1886
- Hampden County Court Records, 1859-1894, and Index, 1859-1861
- Hampden County Divorce proceedings Dockets, 1887-1918
- Hampshire County Divorce Records Index cards (A to end), 1812-1887
- Hampshire County Divorce Records Index cards, 1758-1960
- Massachusetts, Divorce Index, 1952-1970
- Massachusetts, Divorce Records, 1760-1786
- Middlesex County, Court Records 1851-1887
- Middlesex County, Divorce Docket Books 1887-1938
- Norfolk County Divorce Docket Books (1887-1918); Index to Divorce Records (1887-1923)
- Plymouth County Record Books (including Divorces), 1813-1950; and Divorce Index, 1918-1930
- Plymouth County, Divorce Records Index 1888-1973 and Divorce Records 1798-1812
- Suffolk County Court Files, 1629-1797
- Suffolk County Divorce Records, 1888-1915, Divorce Dockets, 1888-1916 and Index to libellants, 1903-1910
- Worcester County, Court Records (including Divorces), 1797-1887
- Worcester County, Divorce Docket Books, 1891-1936
- Worcester County, Divorce Records Index, 1887-1936
New Hampshire
- Concord Vital Records 1900-1925
- Grafton County Court judgments, 1840-1867, 1876-1881
- Grafton County Court Records, 1774-1821, 1836-1837; Court Dockets, 1774-1819, 1833-1851
- Grafton County Equity Records, 1881-1918
- New Hampshire, Divorce certificates, 1938-1947
- New Hampshire, Index to Divorces and annulments prior to 1938
Rhode island
- (None yet)
Vermont
- Morristown Town and Vital Records, ca. 1800-Mar. 5, 2000
- Orange County, Randolph District Probate Records, 1790-1935
For free online divorce records from other states, please visit the Divorce Records page.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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