ARE THERE RECORDS FOR DIVORCES (1959 - 1972)

[geraldine96]

i have recently received a full marriage certificate for a relative as I am researching my family and have a tRee on Ancestry.
In the section  on the certificate(column 4) where the groom is listed as a bachelor, the notary has stamped (not hand written) 'Previous Marriage Dissolved'.
I'd like to trace the previous marriage and think it would be easier to trace the divorce if this is possible.
I am a member of the Ancestry UK site, but I have never attempted to search for divorces, can Roots chatters help me out?
The full marriage cert that I refer to (recently received) is for a marriage that took place at Hendon Register Office, Borough of Barnet. Marriage date was Feb 7th 1972 - I need to find the previous marriage which could have taken place from (1959 - 1971) but as I have outlined in this request for help - it will be easier to find the divorce record if it exists....Thankyou Rootschat - I look forward to reading your replies Geraldine96

[BumbleB]

According to The National Archives, less than 0.2% of divorce case files post-1937 have survived.  They state that currently case files are destroyed 20 years after the case.

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

[goldie61]

Have you searched to see if it was reported in a newspaper?
Divorce would still probably be noteworthy at that time.

[KGarrad]

A copy of a Decree Absolute will cost £10 if you know the case number and the court.
A 10 year search will cost £45 if you don't know the case number.
And if you don't know which court, a 10 year search will cost £65.

See: https://www.gov.uk/copy-decree-absolute-final-order