Divorces were first authorized by legislation in the Northwest Territory in 1795. They were to be granted through the General Court or Circuit Court. Generally this legislation remained in effect through Indiana’s territorial period (1800–1816), and courts having civil jurisdiction also heard divorce cases. In 1807 the territorial General Assembly also had power to grant divorces; in 1811 they passed two acts granting divorces. From 1817 to 1852 the Circuit Court in each county had jurisdiction over divorces, and the Indiana General Assembly could also grant divorces,through special legislation. These divorces have been abstracted:

Newland, M. E. E. Divorces Granted by the Indiana General Assembly Prior to 1852. Harlan, Ind.: the author, 1981. (Not at the Family History Library.)