Indiana Divorce Records: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:31, 29 October 2010

Divorces were first authorized by legislation in the Northwest Territory in 1795. They were to be granted through the General Court or Circuit Court. Generally this legislation remained in effect through Indiana’s territorial period (1800–1816), and courts having civil jurisdiction also heard divorce cases. In 1807 the territorial General Assembly also had power to grant divorces; in 1811 they passed two acts granting divorces. From 1817 to 1852 the Circuit Court in each county had jurisdiction over divorces, and the Indiana General Assembly could also grant divorces,through special legislation. These divorces have been abstracted:

Newland, M. E. E. Divorces Granted by the Indiana General Assembly Prior to 1852. Harlan, Indiana: the author, 1981. (Not at the Family History Library.)

The Court of Common Pleas in each county could grant divorces concurrently with its Circuit Court from 1853 to 1873. As Superior courts were established in various counties, they have had concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court. Divorces were entered in the appropriate court’s Order Book, and these books are being microfilmed through 1920 by the Family History Library. Original pleadings remain as they survive in each county. They may show the date of marriage, children, residencies and other helpful information. Write to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for more information, providing names and approximate date of divorce. The clerk’s office in Vanderburgh County has a separate Divorce Index, and the Washington County Indiana Historical Society has an abstract of early divorces:

Robertson, Bonnie. Divorce Records for Washington County, Indiana, 1814-1921. Salem, Indiana: Washington County Historical Society, 1995. (FHL book 977.222 V28d).

In the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog, divorce records are listed under:

INDIANA, [COUNTY]- DIVORCE RECORDS

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-Divorce records from 1852 to the present are maintained by the clerks of the court at the county level. Previous to the second state constitution in 1852, a divorce could only be granted as an act of the state legislature.<ref>[https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/ Indiana Archives and Records Administration] ''Census and Vital Records'', Accessed 7 May 2025</ref>
+Divorces were first authorized by legislation in the Northwest Territory in 1795. They were to be granted through the General Court or Circuit Court. Generally this legislation remained in effect through [[Indiana]]’s territorial period (1800–1816), and courts having civil jurisdiction also heard divorce cases. In 1807 the territorial General Assembly also had power to grant divorces; in 1811 they passed two acts granting divorces. From 1817 to 1852 the Circuit Court in each county had jurisdiction over divorces, and the Indiana General Assembly could also grant divorces,through special legislation. These divorces have been abstracted:
-==Online Resources==
+Newland, M. E. E. ''Divorces Granted by the Indiana General Assembly Prior to 1852''. Harlan, Indiana: the author, 1981. (Not at the Family History Library.)
-==Print Publications==
+The Court of Common Pleas in each county could grant divorces concurrently with its Circuit Court from 1853 to 1873. As Superior courts were established in various counties, they have had concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court. Divorces were entered in the appropriate court’s Order Book, and these books are being microfilmed through 1920 by the Family History Library. Original pleadings remain as they survive in each county. They may show the date of marriage, children, residencies and other helpful information. Write to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for more information, providing names and approximate date of divorce. The clerk’s office in Vanderburgh County has a separate Divorce Index, and the Washington County Indiana Historical Society has an abstract of early divorces:
-*''Divorces Granted by the Indiana General Assembly Prior to 1852'' by M.E.E. Newland. 1981. {{WorldCat|8180298|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
-==Background==
+Robertson, Bonnie. ''Divorce Records for Washington County, Indiana, 1814-1921''. Salem, Indiana: Washington County Historical Society, 1995. (FHL book 977.222 V28d).
-Divorces were first authorized by legislation in the Northwest Territory in 1795. They were granted through the General Court or Circuit Court. Generally this legislation remained in effect through Indiana’s territorial period (1800–1816), and courts having civil jurisdiction also heard divorce cases. In 1807 the territorial General Assembly also had power to grant divorces; in 1811 they passed two acts granting divorces. From 1817 to 1852 the Circuit Court in each county had jurisdiction over divorces, and the Indiana General Assembly could also grant divorces, through special legislation. These early divorces have been abstracted:
-*''Divorces Granted by the Indiana General Assembly Prior to 1852'' by M.E.E. Newland. 1981. {{WorldCat|8180298|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
+In the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog, divorce records are listed under:
-The Court of Common Pleas in each county could grant divorces concurrently with its Circuit Court from 1853 to 1873. As Superior courts were established in various counties, they have had concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court. Divorces were entered in the appropriate court’s Order Book, and these books are being microfilmed through 1920 by the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Library]]. Original pleadings remain as they survive in each county. They may show the date of marriage, children, residencies, and other helpful information.
+INDIANA, [COUNTY]- DIVORCE RECORDS
-Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court for more information, providing names and approximate date of divorce.
+{{Indiana|Indiana}}
-The [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Library]] has some divorce records for Indiana. These can be viewed at the microfilm at the FamilySearch Library or some [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch centers] Using the Place Search of the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog], type in the county, then click on the topic: Divorce Records.
+[[Category:Indiana|Divorce]]
-[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|How to locate a microfilm number in the FamilySearch Catalog.]] <br>[https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ How to locate a FamilySearch Center.] <br>
-==Information Recorded 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|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.
-*[[United States Newspapers|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|United States Divorce Records]] for more information.''
-==References==
-{{reflist}}
-[[Category:Indiana, United States|Divorce]]