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. 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 clerks and court archives, especially those that can be searched online.
Note: Please be aware that if you find a 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 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 August 2023)
- Free Alabama Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Alaska Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Arizona Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Arkansas Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free California Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Colorado Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Connecticut Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Delaware Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free District of Columbia Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Florida Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Georgia Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Hawaii Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Idaho Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Illinois Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Indiana Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Iowa Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Kansas Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Kentucky Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Louisiana Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Maine Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Maryland Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Massachusetts Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Michigan Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Minnesota Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Mississippi Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Missouri Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Montana Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Nebraska Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Nevada Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free New Hampshire Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free New Jersey Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free New Mexico Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free New York Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free North Carolina Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free North Dakota Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Ohio Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Oklahoma Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Oregon Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Pennsylvania Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Rhode Island Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free South Carolina Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free South Dakota Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Tennessee Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Texas Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Utah Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Vermont Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Virginia Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Washington Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free West Virginia Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Wisconsin Online Divorce Record Collections
- Free Wyoming Online Divorce Record Collections
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!