Divorces
There is no index to Wayne County, OH divorces until the early 1900s. Prior to 1843, divorces were recorded in the Supreme Court. From 1843 to 1852, they were recorded in Chancery records. From 1852 to 1894, divorces were recorded in Common Pleas Court records. Between 1894 and 1911, they may have been recorded in either Common Pleas Court or Probate Court. From 1911 to 1914, they were probably recorded in Common Pleas Court unless the county had established a Domestic Relations Court. By 1914, most counties had established a Domestic Relations Court. This is where they remain.
Court records are not the only place to find divorces. Notices of divorces can be found in newspapers. The laws of the time required public notice in “a newspaper of general circulation.” In the early newspapers, they can be found almost anywhere.
Although no divorce index for Wayne County, OH currently exists, a few can be found in the book, Ohio Divorces: The Early Years by Carol Willsey Bell. Some counties, such as Medina County, OH has published an index to divorces recorded in their county.
Around 1914, Wayne County, OH began indexing divorces. The index can be found at the Wayne County Courthouse, Clerk of Courts. However, once the file number is obtained from the courthouse, the researcher will need to go to the Administration Building, Microfilm Services to obtain a copy of the divorce record.
Many counties in Ohio and other states are beginning to include indexes to recent court cases online. Wayne County, OH is no exception. The index for Wayne County, OH can be found through the Clerk of Courts website: