Divorce 1940's UK

[Pendlewitch67]

Good evening

I am looking for information on divorce in the late 1940's, please.

How long did it take from application to decree nisi to be granted?

Was it expensive and was it an option for anyone?



Thank you.

Kind regards
Amanda

[BumbleB]

According to the TNA less than 0.2% of divorce files survive post 1937.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/divorce/#4-divorce-case-files-1858-1972

[Pendlewitch67]

Thank you.

I'm not specifically looking for files just time scales.

[mckha489]

There are some references listed at the foot of this article which might give that sort of detail.
The article itself is informative

https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Divorce_in_England_and_Wales#:~:text=The%20Second%20World%20War%20caused,of%20divorce%20cases%20increased%20rapidly.

[Pendlewitch67]

Thank you. I'll have a read 

[GR2]

Divorces were often reported on by the newspapers, so worth checking there.

[Pendlewitch67]

Thanks. I found the news report of the decree nisi but wondered how long it took to go through.

[Andy J2022]

Under the earlier law (the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 and the Judicature Act 1925) once the decree nisi had been issued the petitioner (ie the successful party) could apply for the decree absolute after 6 weeks, but the unsuccessful party could not apply for the decree to be made absolute, meaning that they could not remarry if the successful party opposed this. Section 9 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1937 changed this situation and allowed the unsuccessful party to apply for the decree to be made absolute three months after the moment when application by the successful party was first possible, or in other words, four and a half months after the decree nisi was given by the court.

[Pendlewitch67]

Under the earlier law (the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 and the Judicature Act 1925) once the decree nisi had been issued the petitioner (ie the successful party) could apply for the decree absolute after 6 weeks, but the unsuccessful party could not apply for the decree to be made absolute, meaning that they could not remarry if the successful party opposed this. Section 9 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1937 changed this situation and allowed the unsuccessful party to apply for the decree to be made absolute three months after the moment when application by the successful party was first possible, or in other words, four and a half months after the decree nisi was given by the court.

Thank you 😁