How to Show a Divorce on Ancestry.com

Marriages end, and accurate family trees must reflect that reality. Recording a divorce is just as important as recording a marriage, as it explains name changes, separate households in census records, and the appearance of step-parents.

On Ancestry, there isn’t a single “Divorced” checkbox. Instead, you document the end of a relationship by adding a Divorce Fact to the person’s profile. This ensures the timeline correctly displays the marriage duration and distinguishes between a current spouse and an ex-spouse.

Step 1: How to Add a Divorce “Fact” to Your Tree

The most effective way to show a divorce is to add it as a life event. This places a marker in the timeline indicating exactly when the relationship ended.

1. Open the Profile: Go to your family tree and click on the person who was divorced. Click on their name again to open their full Profile Page.
2. Go to the Facts Tab: Ensure you are looking at the “Facts” column (usually the default view).
3. Add an Event: Click the + Add button found in the “Facts” section.
4. Select Divorce: In the menu that appears, scroll down and select Divorce.
5. Enter Details:
   • Date: Enter the date or year of the divorce.
   • Location: Enter the place where it was finalized.
   • Spouse: Crucial Step: If the person has been married multiple times, look for the “Spouse” dropdown at the bottom of the popup window. Ensure the correct ex-partner is selected.
6. Save: Click Add. The divorce will now appear on the timelines of both former spouses.

Note: If you haven’t added the spouse yet, you will need to add the person to the tree first as a spouse, and then add the divorce fact to end the relationship.

Step 2: Adjusting Relationship Types After a Divorce (Optional)

Sometimes, Ancestry defaults to labeling everyone as a “Spouse,” which can be confusing if they were never married or if the relationship ended. You can clarify this in the “Edit Relationships” menu.

1. On the person’s profile, click Edit (top right) and select Edit Relationships.
2. Find the specific partner in the list.
3. Use the dropdown menu to change the relationship type (e.g., from “Spouse” to “Partner” or “Other” if they were never legally married).
4. While you cannot select “Ex-Spouse” here, adding the Divorce Fact (Step 1) is the standard way to indicate the marriage is over.

Step 3: How to Find Divorce Records on Ancestry

If you know a couple split up but don’t have the date, Ancestry’s record collections can help you find the decree.

1. Go to the Card Catalog: Click the Search tab in the main menu and select Card Catalog.
2. Filter by Category: On the left sidebar, click Birth, Marriage & Death, and then select Marriage & Divorce.
3. Filter by Location: Narrow the search by selecting the country, state, and county where the divorce likely occurred.
4. Search: Enter the names of the husband and wife.
5. Review Records: Look for court dockets, dissolution of marriage indexes, or newspaper announcements.

If you find a record, attach it to the profile. This serves as proof and automatically adds the correct date to your tree.

Conclusion

Documenting divorces correctly prevents confusion for future researchers who might wonder why a biological grandmother disappears from later census records. By adding a clear “Divorce” fact, you ensure your family history tells the complete, honest story of your ancestors’ lives.