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 November 2024)
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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 where 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. However, 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 the county clerk and court archives, especially those that can be searched online.
Note: Please be aware that if you find the desired divorce record in an index, 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 links listed 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. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Below are links to the state’s divorce record and index collections that are available for free online.
Iowa Divorce Records
- Adair County, Divorce Cards, 1917-1919
- Allamakee County Divorce Records
- Benton County Divorce Index 1906-1925
- Benton County, Divorce Records, 1906-1925
- Carroll County Divorce Records
- Carroll County Decree of Divorces and Attachments, 1891-1908
- Cedar County Divorce Record Indexes
- Cedar County Divorce Records
- Chariton Newspaper Name Indexes 1867-2005
- Clayton County Divorce Index 1906-1914
- Clayton County Divorce Index 1914-1920
- Clayton County Divorce Records
- Des Moines County Divorce Records
- Des Moines County Chancery Record, V. A-C, 1839-1855
- Des Moines County Divorce Records, 1835-1950
- Fayette County Records of Divorce, 1906-1980
- Grundy County Divorce Records Index 1904-1946
- Hamilton County Divorce Records
- Hancock County Divorce Record Index (1901-1986)
- Henry County Record of Divorces, 1907-1992
- Ida County Newspaper Index (Divorce References)
- Iowa County Miscellaneous Records, 1877-1932
- Iowa State Divorce Records, 1906-1937
- Iowa, Divorce Records, 1938-1952
- Jackson County Divorce Records
- Jackson County Divorces
- Jackson County Divorce Records, 1848-1865; Index, 1906-1984
- Johnson County Divorce Records, 1851-1953
- Johnson County Probate Records, 1851-1914
- Kossuth County Divorce Records
- Linn County Divorce Records
- Louisa County Divorce Records
- Madison County Divorce Indexes
- Madison County Divorce Records
- Madison County, Divorce Records, 1855-1938
- Marion County Divorce Records
- Monona County Divorce Records
- Monroe County General Database with Marriages, Divorces, & Deaths
- Muscatine County Divorce Records
- Muscatine County Divorce Records, 1907-1950
- Muscatine County, Divorce Applications Index 1840-1907
- Page County Divorce Indexes 1900-1921
- Palo Alto County Divorce Records
- Plymouth County Divorces
- Pocahontas County Record of Divorces, 1907-2001
- Polk County Divorce Records
- Polk County Probate Records (includes Divorces), 1852-1967
- Pottawattamie County Divorce Records
- Pottawattamie County Divorce Records
- Pottawattamie County Divorces
- Pottawattamie County Divorce Records, 1906-1956
- Ringgold County Divorce Records
- Ringgold County Divorce Records, 1893-1911
- Scott County Divorce Records
- Story County Divorce Index 1854-1924
- Story County Divorce Records
- Taylor County Divorce Records
- Vinton Eagle Divorce Notices 1855 – 1880
- Wapello County Divorces, 1906-1951
- Warren County Divorce Records
- Wayne County Divorce Records, 1907-2012
- Webster County Divorce Records
- Webster County Divorces, 1856-1924
- Winneshiek County Divorce Records
- Woodbury County Divorce Records
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!