Jewish Divorce Records

Jewish Genealogy   Divorce Records

Depending on the time period and place, divorces before the mid-20th century were often uncommon, illegal, or allowed for specific religious groups only. Civil officials in the Russian Empire kept divorce records only for Jews. While divorce was an accepted practice among Jews, records of divorce were seldom kept by the synagogue.

Divorce records are often not open to the public. The Family History Library has some records of divorce in its collection. Most divorce records are found in the civil registration or vital records office of the town or county where the divorce took place or in court records. See "Civil Registration" and "Vital Records" in this outline and in the outlines of the countries or states you are researching.