How to find UK divorce records for family history

As civil administrative records, divorce records are typically held by a country's national record-keeping institution. Where you look for your ancestors' divorce records depends on whether you've got roots in England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland, as well as the distinct history of divorce in each country. 

England and Wales 

In England and Wales, civil divorce became possible in 1858 with the opening of the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes. While records spanning 1858 to 1937 are held at The National Archives in London, many have been digitised and made searchable on family history websites like Findmypast. 

Scotland 

Scottish divorce records from 1830 are held by the National Records of Scotland. You can access the statutory register of divorces from 1984 onwards on the Scotland's People website.  

Ireland 

In Ireland, divorce was rare and difficult to obtain until the end of the 20th century, so you won't find a wealth of divorce records available. Post-1922 records are kept by the Irish courts, but it's unlikely that legal divorce would have featured in the lives of your Irish relatives before the 1990s. 

For divorces from the mid-20th century onwards, you may need to apply directly to the relevant court or archive. These records are not searchable online for privacy reasons. 

In England and Wales, the Central Family Court can confirm recent divorces, although full files are often restricted to protect privacy. You’ll usually need the names of both parties, an approximate year, and the court location. 

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, requests should be made to appropriate court services or archives, while access rules vary and fees may apply. 

Before searching online divorce records, it's a good idea to gather all the details you know. Build your family tree to establish names, locations and the dates of key milestones like births, marriages and deaths. From here, you can determine where and when a divorce may have taken place. 

Start with a general search of digitised divorce records, using names and approximate dates to guide your findings. When searching: 

• Refine your timeframe. Start with a 5-10 year range around your estimated date, and narrow it down as you go. 
• Include both spouses’ names, as some records are indexed under the petitioner and others are under the respondent’s. 
• Try variant spellings - clerical errors were common in older records. Your ancestors' names may have been mis-recorded, or they may have changed their names over time. 
• Delve deeper with other sources. Historical newspapers often carried divorce announcements or reports of court proceedings. Census or electoral records can indicate a change in marital status. Understand the full picture by exploring divorce records in conjunction with other resources. 

Depending on the location and time period, a historical divorce record might contain: 

• Names and addresses of both spouses 
• Occupations and ages 
• Date and place of marriage 
• Grounds for divorce (such as adultery or desertion) 
• Names and birthdates of children 
• Witness statements and legal correspondence 
• Divorce date 

Even an index entry can confirm a divorce date and court, leading you to other records such as remarriage certificates, wills, or property transfers. 

Divorce records are more than legal paperwork - they offer insight into the turning points in your ancestors’ lives. They may explain a change of address, a shift in occupation, or the arrival of a stepparent in later census records. When paired with other sources like newspapers, parish registers, and electoral rolls, they can help you understand not just the fact of a divorce, but its impact on the wider family story.