Divorce between 1924 and 1946

[jacques]

Didn't know which board to post this to.

Looking for a Divorce for Geoffrey Nesfield Fowler and Florenence M (nee Fennel)

between 1924 and 1946 possibly Yorkshire or Derbyshire but unsure of location.

Help appreciated in finding the above

Pam

[avm228]

The National Archives' J77 catalogue shows no divorce file for this couple up to 1937:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?fldResultMarker=1&fldSearchNumber=232857&SearchInit=1

If it was after that date, the file is very unlikely to have survived; see

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/divorce.htm

[jacques]

Many thanks for that, at least it has narrowed the time distance down to 9years.
Thank you for your time

[Desert Girl]

Hi,

I'm not trying to put the cat amongst the pigeons, just offering different ideas, in the absence of a divorce record for your couple.  Are you sure they divorced??

Divorces were more rare in those days, as they were not only expensive but rather more difficult to acquire, compared to modern day. 
In many cases, rather than go through divorce or unable to be granted one, couples wishing to be together would leave their respective spouse/s and set up home together in another town, as man and wife, the woman taking the man's name, and everyone assuming they were a married couple.

In the case of my grandmother, it is possible for some people to re-marry without having got divorced.  She was deserted by my grandfather approx 1933/34.  By 1940 she had met someone else and wanted to re-marry.  On a solicitor's advice, she posted the required notices in the newspapers for x amount of weeks, appealing for knowledge of the whereabouts of her husband, to which there was no response. She had tp prove that she had made every possible effort to locate & contact him, to no avail. As a period of 7 years had elapsed, he was declared dead and she was legally able to marry again. On her 2nd marriage cert she is 'widow'.  I often wonder what happens in cases like this where the first spouse might turn up!!  I'm sure it has happened.


Anyway,  just offering some food for thought.

[dawnsh]

Hi Pam

The Principal Registry of the Family Division (PRFD) holds a central index of all Decrees Absolute granted in England and Wales from 1858 to date.

Copies of decrees absolute can be requested from the issuing court. A fee is payable.

If you don't know which court, the PRFD can undertake a search but it costs £60 for each 10 years searched. And all you'll get if there is a result is the date the decree nisi was made absolute, no case details at all.

Dawn

[jacques]

Thanks Desert Girl and dawnsh for the information.
He came from a wealthy family so don't think expense would be an issue.
On his 2nd marriage certificate in conditions column it states divorced husband of Florence May.
I did find a possible death for her prior to his second marriage. if she had died surely it would have said Widower..  His second wife was 20 years younger than him.

Pam

[Valda]

Hi


Information taken from various parts of The National Archives information on divorce

The survival rate of divorce case files is:

•1858-1927:  almost 100%
•1928-1937:  80%
•After 1937 :  less than 0.2%

Between 1858 and 1927 almost all divorce files survive. Between 1928 and 1937, the 80% of suits that were filed in the Central Registry are in J 77. The 20% of suits that were filed in the new district registries were destroyed (they are not indexed by J 78). After 1938, very few survive

In 1922, ten assize towns were named as suitable for the hearing of certain kinds of uncontested divorce. From 1927, petitions could also be filed in 23 district registries instead of solely at the Principal Registry in London, while cases could be heard in 18 assize towns as well as in London. This option proved increasingly popular: within 10 years nearly a quarter of all suits were started at district registries of the Supreme Court.


So that would seem to put the time scale from 1928 not 1937 if the divorce was heard in one of the 18 assize towns and not at the Principal Registry in London.

A widower is someone who has lost his wife by death. If you are not married to your former wife because of a divorce then she is not legally your wife. Therefore you are not a widower as no-one who is actually married to you has died.


Regards


Valda

[jacques]

Thanks Valda for the information and your time
Pam

[fifer1947]

Oooooo I must have been very lucky then because I got my mum's divorce (1957) details direct from the Family Court in Manchester about 10 years ago.