Genealogy Chat

This must look like a really stupid question but I don't know whether I'm divorced or not!

When I separated from my wife in 1978 we had a lengthy 3-year court battle over custody of my daughter. After I won in 1981 she disappeared and we haven't seen her since. Now, during that time there were papers and correspondence going back and forth - I have two thick files of papers in the garage. As you can imagine it was a very stressful time and I had a hard job staying abreast of all the to-ing and fro-ing.

I'm sure I remember during that period my wife filed for divorce and that I recieved papers to that effect. It's all a blur to me now, what with all the other stuff going on at the time. However, I can't find any such papers and I'm wondering if I imagined it.

My family were shocked the other day when I admitted that I didn't know whether I was divorced or not, but can anybody tell me how I can find out? And if I'm not divorced, how do I go about applying for it when I have no idea of the whereabouts of my ex-wife?

I think you should be able to find out by contacting:-

PRINCIPAL REGISTRY FAMILY DIVISION
FIRST AVENUE HOUSE
42-49 HIGH HOLBORN
LONDON WC1 6NP

I think they charge about £30 to do a 10 year search for a divorce.

I'm not certain but I think that if you can prove you have been living apart for 5 years you can apply for a divorce without your wife's consent.

Kath. x

I used to listen to Dick Barton!
Silly question perhaps, did you use a solicitor ?
Which Court granted custody, may be same Town for Divorce.

My brother was in the same situation and never did sign the divorce papers.
When he decided to marry again he went to the local family court that dealt with divorce and such like. A clerk retrieved a file and told him there and then that his divorce had gone through some years earlier.
He assumed that after a five year separation his then wife had gone ahead with the divorce without having needed my brothers consent

You could maybe try and find out if your ex-wife remarried and then you'd know that you are actually divorced

well if a divorce has been granted you would get a degree nisi.and then some six weeks later (I think) then a degree absolute would be issued and you would get a copy of that.

found this!!

If you need legal proof of a divorce in any court, from 1858 to the present day, contact the Principle Registry of the Family Division, Decree Absolute Section, First Avenue House, 42 – 49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP (+44 (0) 20 947 7017 / 7016 / 6051).

For a fee, they will access a union index to the registered court copies of decrees absolute for you, and either provide a certified copy of the information themselves (if the divorce was granted by the Supreme Court) or arrange for a certified copy to be sent to you from the relevant county court.

If the divorce took place within the last 5 years, you can also contact the county court where it took place for a cheaper service. If you want information on the cause of the divorce, ask for the decree nisi as well.

Thank you so much everybody. At least it looks like I won't need to track down my ex-wife!

Alastair
I suggest you tone down your reply. Others have been banned from GR for upsetting others.

If there is a complaint you could find yourself in the same position. You do not know all the circumstances. I have heard divorce is like a death. Having recently experienced the death of my husband I can sympathise

..... unacceptable insults have been reported!

My daughter and I have just caught up with this thread and are both in tears.... of laughter!

Dear old Alastair has clearly never experienced an extended period of extreme stress, so I'm happy for him. Those of us that live in the real world will know that in a crisis it's perfectly possible to remain so focused on one problem all others fall by the wayside. Happily Claire and I have a secure and contented life and those three years are now a dim and distant memory.

Good on you Paul, how wonderful you and Claire have a happy, secure, and contented life.
Know what it is like living with a loving Dad, this was through the death of my mother, but Dad and I were close, and when it was my turn to look after him, I did, until he died.

And yes, I know what it is like to experience a period of extreme stress.

Mo

If the solicitors are still there that you used maybe they can tell you.

Hi Paul

If you should ever want to marry again (as I did last year) you will have to produce your divorce certificate as proof that your previous marriage was dissolved.

Wendy

hi there,
My grandfathers marriage to his first wife was annuled after 7 years, as she walked out and no one could find her, so no papers were signed, they just presumed that she had passed away or had remarried. That was in the 1930s