Discover Your Past: Alienation of Affection: Divorce in the United States

Divorce in not just a 20th Century phenomenon. At first, granted by the State Legislature and then by the Courts, these are public records. The case files can include marriage date and place, names and ages of children, current and former residences, and affidavits by the spouses about their marriage and reason for divorce. Professional genealogist Christine Cohen explains where to find clues, such as in the census, city directories, military pensions, county histories, county court houses and especially in newspapers. Divorce could be the reason for a "lost spouse".