Virginia Divorce Records

Virginia Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Record Types

Virginia Background

Cultural Groups

Local Research Resources

Online Resources

1718-1980 Chancery Records Index at Library of Virginia — index; searchable by name.^[1]
1918-1988 Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index & images
1918-2014 Virginia Deptartment of Health - Divorce and Vital Records at Ancestry.com — index & images (free collection)
1918-2014 Virginia Divorce Records, 1918-2014 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Office to Contact - Get Copies

Restrictions

Divorce records become public information 25 years after the event. ^[2]

Virginia Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: (804) 662-6200
Website

Divorce records less than 25 years old are available to immediate family members only who provide proper identification.
Online Application

Library of Virginia
800 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-692-3500;
Library Reference: 804-692-3777;
Archives Reference: 804-692-3888
Fax: 804-692-3556
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov
Website

Chancery Records Index at Library of Virginia — index; searchable by name

County Courthouses
Divorce records are usually kept by the circuit court in the county or city. ^[3]

Contact a (Circuit Court) Clerk at Virginia Court Clerks Association

Background

Virginia divorce records have been kept by courts since about 1718, when the first Virginia county was organized.
See United States Divorce records for more information.

Coverage and Compliance

Divorces are court records and have high compliance.
Many couples separated leaving no divorce record.

Information in the Records

Virginia Divorce Records Usually Include:^[4]^[5]
Names of Parties*	x
Original Marriage Place	x
Divorce Place	x
Divorce Date	x
# of Children Affected	x
* Usually not maiden name of the woman

What type of information can I find in the Chancery Records Index? at Virginia Memory

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.

References

↑ Chancery Records Index Availability at Library of Virginia. ongoing effort to digitally reformat and index the pre-1913 records of Virginia circuit courts
↑ Office of Vital Records At Virginia Department of Health
↑ Custodian of Court Cases: The Clerk is the official recordkeeper of all circuit court cases which include ... divorce proceedings.... Under Virginia law, the Clerk is responsible for providing public access to most court files.
↑ Chancery Records Index Availability at Library of Virginia. Searchable by names, not by type of case.
↑ What type of information can I find in the Chancery Records Index? at Virginia Memory

[1] Chancery Records Index Availability at Library of Virginia. ongoing effort to digitally reformat and index the pre-1913 records of Virginia circuit courts

[2] Office of Vital Records At Virginia Department of Health

[3] Custodian of Court Cases: The Clerk is the official recordkeeper of all circuit court cases which include ... divorce proceedings.... Under Virginia law, the Clerk is responsible for providing public access to most court files.

[4] Chancery Records Index Availability at Library of Virginia. Searchable by names, not by type of case.

[5] What type of information can I find in the Chancery Records Index? at Virginia Memory

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