Were They Divorced?

[John Laidler]

I have a marriage certificate for a Catholic marriage in 1943. Both parties subsequently remarried, one in 1948 and the other a few years later.

What I can't find in the online records is any record of a divorce. Can anyone suggest if there are any other sources of information to find a record of a divorce around 1945 plus or minus a year or two? It would almost certainly have occurred in England I think.

[Jebber]

You  need  to read the TNA guide to divorce records.

If you purchase one of the second marriage certificates it should tell that there was a previous divorce and from whom.

[John Laidler]

You  need  to read the TNA guide to divorce records.

If you purchase one of the second marriage certificates it should tell that there was a previous divorce and from whom.

Thank you, there is no record of a divorce on the second marriage certificate.  The "Condition" of the previously married women is described as "Spinster". Should it say "Divorced" or something like that?
A quick check suggests it might cost me £65 to fill in a Form D440 as I don't know where the divorce was done - if it ever was!

[Jebber]

It should say divorced, I have several that name the previous spouse.

 I also have one where the couple separated, the husband remarried declaring himself to be a bachelor, thus committing bigamy, he emigrated whispers his new “wife”.  The first wife knowing she was still married, simply cohabited and used a false name when registering her two children.

[iolaus]

However I believe if the wedding was ANNULED rather than ending in divorce it's as if it never existed and therefore spinster would be right

[John Laidler]

However I believe if the wedding was ANNULED rather than ending in divorce it's as if it never existed and therefore spinster would be right

Thank you, although I have read the GRO wouldn't send out a copy of the first marriage certificate (which they have) if the marriage was annulled. I may be wrong of course!

[dowdstree]

What if either party was already married when the 1943 wedding took place this marriage would be bigamous and would therefore never have existed.

Dorrie

[bevj]

I would have thought that the chances of a Catholic couple getting divorced in the 1940's were pretty slim.
If the events all took place in the same area, maybe the Catholic Archdiocese of that area would have some records.

Bev

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

It's possible that there would be a report in a newspaper. You could try looking at FindMyPast or

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/


Let us know if the marriage was not in England and we might be able to find other resources.


Regards,
Daisy