The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is May 2026)
Get all free genealogy resources for your state, organized and ready to use — The Research Library
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.
Download the Quicksheet PDF
To obtain a three-page Quicksheet PDF of this information, download it by clicking on the Download button below:
For all the previously published Quick Reference Guides, click on QuickSheets.
Many more Common Terms Research Guides are available inside the Newspaper Research Academy at theancestorhunt.com/academy.html in addition to several tools for improving your newspaper research skills
The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is May 2026)
Get all free genealogy resources for your state, organized and ready to use — The Research Library