Lost National Archives Divorce Instructions

[susan-y]

Hello...

For some reason ( likely my brain):redface: I have been searching the previous threads for the instructions on how to find divorces on the National Archives site. ( I should have copied them when I saw them) About a month ago Someone kindly posted a step by step instruction on a thread started by someone else and they worked great. Now, no matter how I put stuff in the advnced search they are not coming up :taz:

Help with the link, please!

Sue

[Geoffers]

Start with TNA's catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/Default.asp?j=1)

In the word or phrase field enter a surname
If you can narrow down the year range do so, but add a few years after the expected divroce date.
In the department or series code enter - J77

If the surname is one which occurs frequently you can include a forename. Type names in lower case and add the word AND between the two names - e.g. john AND smith

Research guides - click here (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/Default.asp?j=1) and look at the links prefixed 'Divorce'

Does that help?

[susan-y]

Thankyou! Didn't find who I was looking for, but I'm not surprised! Its THEM, not the instructions! I don't think there was ever a marriage ( can't find one, anyway)... not my family, just searching for a friend who was raised in an orphange and says his parents divorced.

Sue

[Geoffers]

I should also have added previously that if a name is one which may be subject to several spellings, you can search for a partial name and add an asterisk - e.g. smi* or c*lins, etc.

Many didn't marry, many didn't bother with the formality of divorce. Do note that the indexed records in J77 are only searchable up to c.1938 and also not all divorce records have survived.

I don't suppose the family may have left wills in which family members and relaitonships may have survived? Or if the couple had children, did they get married and if so who is recorded as father on the marriage certificate?

Good luck to your friend in trying to locate any records.

[susan-y]

Many didn't marry, many didn't bother with the formality of divorce. Do note that the indexed records in J77 are only searchable up to c.1938 and also not all divorce records have survived.

.

You can tell I had not had my morning coffee when I sent that and did the searching! I am looking for the 1940"s -1950"s, but still I haven't found any record of a marriage and one of the names is fairly uncommon... Think I shall point them in the general direction and go back to my illusive family members!

Thanks again.

Sue

[Geoffers]

I am looking for the 1940"s -1950"s, but still I haven't found any record of a marriage and one of the names is fairly uncommon..

The indexes survive in J78, but they are not searchable online - so you'll need a cheap day return to Kew to view them. Other possibilities are searching newspapers to see if any legal notices were posted in connection with the divorce or the wife reverting to her maiden name following separation.

[susan-y]

The indexes survive in J78, but they are not searchable online - so you'll need a cheap day return to Kew to view them.
http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Transports/f-16-021.gif Just warming it up and melting the snow!
With my bank account I will have to come either..http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Transports/parachute-030.GIF OR http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Transports/kayak-023.gif

:smile5: Sue

[Geoffers]

With my bank account I will have to come either..http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Transports/parachute-030.GIF OR http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Transports/kayak-023.gif



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