# What kind of research can I do on a divorce?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-research-can-i-do-on-a-divorce/818702>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 27, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-research-can-i-do-on-a-divorce/818702 "2018-07-27T21:26:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-research-can-i-do-on-a-divorce/818702/1 "2018-07-27T21:26:10Z")

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If I want to research on one, from the late/ mid 20th century. how far can I go? Are there any options? What agencies do you use? I’m interested in getting the “cause” given. Is this information lost?

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-research-can-i-do-on-a-divorce/818702/2 "2018-07-27T21:34:57Z")

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Contact the county clerk of court where the divorce was filed in to see what is available.

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**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-research-can-i-do-on-a-divorce/818702/3 "2018-07-27T21:35:55Z")

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The court records should still be on file at the courthouse where the divorce happened … that’s a start … note that some jurisdictions only allow “irreconcilable differences” as a cause … you may be able to find this information over the internet if you look up the laws where the divorced was filed …

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**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-research-can-i-do-on-a-divorce/818702/4 "2018-07-27T21:55:29Z")

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My great-grandparents were divorced in 1910 and I was able to get all the court records and filings (ggm left ggf because he was a jerk, he sued her for divorce on the basis of abandonment, she got a small settlement, they both died broke 18 years later). Court clerk should have whatever is available.