Common Terms for Divorce & Separation in Newspapers

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Divorce and separation terminology appears frequently in historical newspapers through legal notices, court reports, domestic relations filings, and announcements involving spouses and family members. These terms often reveal marital conflict, residence details, financial circumstances, and clues about children or extended family. Because divorce was socially sensitive and legally complex in many eras, newspapers frequently reported multiple stages of a case, making these terms valuable for tracking timelines and understanding family transitions. The tables below list commonly used divorce-related terms in newspapers, the contexts in which they appear, and the genealogical insights they provide.

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