Virginia Divorce Records: Difference between revisions

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

Information in the Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

↑ 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

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 Phone: (804) 662-6200<br>
 [https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/genealogy/ Website]<br>
-:*Divorce records less than 25 years old are available to immediate family members only who provide proper identification.
+{{Block indent|*Divorce records less than 25 years old are available to immediate family members only who provide proper identification.}}
-:*[https://vr-fhs.vdh.virginia.gov/vvestsapps/f?p=140:1 Online Application]
+{{Block indent|1=*[https://vr-fhs.vdh.virginia.gov/vvestsapps/f?p=140:1 Online Application]|2=1}}
 <br>
 '''Library of Virginia'''<br>
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 Email: [mailto:archdesk@lva.virginia.gov archdesk@lva.virginia.gov]<br>
 [https://lva-virginia.libguides.com/bmd Website]<br>
-:*[https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/default.asp#res Chancery Records Index] at Library of Virginia — index; searchable by name
+{{Block indent|*[https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/default.asp#res Chancery Records Index] at Library of Virginia — index; searchable by name}}
 <br>
 ''County Courthouses''<br>
 Divorce records are usually kept by the circuit court in the county or city. <ref>[https://www.vaclerks.org/lscinc/duties.htm 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.</ref>
-:*[https://vccaonline.org/?page_id=708 Contact a (Circuit Court) Clerk] at Virginia Court Clerks Association
+{{Block indent|1=*[https://vccaonline.org/?page_id=708 Contact a (Circuit Court) Clerk] at Virginia Court Clerks Association|2=1}}
 ==Background==