Early Kentucky Divorce Index

About This Collection

Prior to 1809, divorces in Kentucky were granted only by act of the state legislature. Beginning in 1809, authority shifted to the circuit courts, and surviving records become more regular and detailed. This index brings these materials into a single, searchable format while preserving the original spellings and wording.

The collection includes the following data:

• Legislative divorces (pre-1809)
• Circuit court divorces (post-1809)
• Cases involving restored maiden or former names
• Legalized marriages and legitimations

Project Beginnings

This collection is based on the transcriptions and research prepared by Shirley Reynolds and Regina Barry, originally contributed to the KYGenWeb project. Their work incorporates material from the Glenn Clift divorce list, items published in Bluegrass Roots, and records located in selected circuit-court and legislative sources. Their original file structure and spelling are preserved.

Historical Sources Used in This Collection

• Early Kentucky legislative acts granting divorces prior to 1809.
• Circuit court records across various Kentucky counties beginning in 1809.
• Research compiled by Glenn Clift while at the Kentucky Historical Society in the 1950s.
• Articles published in Bluegrass Roots by the Kentucky Genealogical Society beginning in 1980.
• Original submissions in the USGenWeb Archives, preserved with attribution.