Divorce

I've just obtained a copy of my grandfather's second marriage - he and my
grandmother separated sometime in the 1920s. The circumstances of the
separation aren't entirely clear to me and surviving relatives and
aquaintances either can't or won't shed much light on the subject.

My grandfather married for the second time in 1946 at the age of 46. I
notice that in the column headed "condition" is written "Formerly the
husband of xxxxx formerly yyyyy, a spinster from whom [I've?] obtained a
divorce".

If I understand correctly, there were no quickie or no-fault divorces in
1946 and it was necessaey for one party to petition for a divorce on
specific grounds (usually adultery). Could anyone confirm or otherwise that
this was the case and perhaps comment on how easy/difficult/expensive it was
to obtain a divorce at this time and how long the process took? Also, would
most divorces at this time be reported in local or national newspapers or
were they so common as not to be newsworthy?

I was wondering if the particular wording on my grandfather's certificate
would suggest that he was the petitioner in the divorce? Are there any
public documents I can obtain to determine this?

Jeff
.

Anne Chambers...

There may have been a divorce report in the court reports in The Times -
what names ?

Jeff...

Andrew Grenfell/Annie Hall

Stan's response (for which much thanks) suggests an average of around 100
divorces a day in 1946. Plus my grandparents were fairly ordinary working
people so I'd be surprised if they made the Times - but who knows, it's
worth a try.

Presumably however, there must be some public register which lists divorces
in the same way that the marriages are listed - otherwise how would one
prove that one was divorced and eligible to re-marry?

Jeff...

That's really useful information - many thanks.

Anne Chambers...

Did your grandmother remarry ?

Jeff...

Anne Chambers...

as you suspected, nothing in The Times - but it was worth a try.
Sorry - but, at least, one source discounted

Jeff...

Thanks for looking

She did (in 1951) but I haven't obtained the certificate. Yes, I guess it
might be worth looking at the wording on that - though I suspect you could
more or less insert what you wanted in the condition column as long as it
wasn't an outright porky.

Jeff...

In those times it would simply say "Previous marriage dissolved" but the
registrar would have wanted to see the Decree Absolute (assuming of
course she was divorced)