North Carolina Divorce Records
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Online Resources
- Divorce Index 1958-2004 at Ancestry.com - $
Offices to Contact
- Superior court clerk at the county courthouse
- North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources - has divorce records from 1 January 1958 to the present.
Background
After the American Revolution and through 1827, divorces could be granted by the general assembly, and these records are among the legislative papers at the state archives. The superior court for each county in North Carolina also had jurisdiction over divorce cases beginning in 1814.
Information Recorded in the Records
Divorce records may provide information about the date and place of marriage, names and ages of children, the cause of the divorce, and terms of settlement.
Information in the Records
Divorce records may include:
- Petitions, which started the process, include at least names of parties and the grievance. May include date and place of marriage.
- Certificates or registers contain date marriage was dissolved and names of parties.
- Case files contain the papers created and include marriage and divorce details, residences, and name changes. May include children's names, ages, birth dates.
- See United States Divorce records for more information.
Strategy
- Divorces can be difficult to locate. The divorce may have occurred in another county. Try all the residences of both the husband and wife.
- Newspapers often printed information about separations and divorces in the area to help you determine if a divorce exists.
- Many couples simply separated, leaving no divorce record.
- See United States Divorce Records for more information.