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The series consists of indexes to copies of divorce orders submitted to the Division of Vital Statistics and its predecessor, the Vital Statistics Branch.

The indexes consist of computer printouts arranged alphabetically by surname of husband. Prior to 1976 the indexes cover groups of years. From 1977 to 1983 they are annual. A consolidated index covering 1901-1977 was also created. Divorce orders 1501-1582 (1962) were omitted from the 1935-1962 index and a separate index was created by BC Archives staff.

The index entries prior to April 1935 are based on a card index maintained by the Inspector of Legal Offices of actions commenced in divorce and matrimonial proceedings. The index was turned over to the Vital Statistics Division in 1946 which incorporated "certain entries" into its index. The cards were assigned volume number 999, "indicating that the entry referred to an index card only, and not to a copy of a decree." Accordingly, any index entries prior to April 1935 do not necessarily indicate the completion of a divorce action.

Further information about these divorce actions may be found in the court records of the registry where the action was commenced. If an action was commenced prior to April 1935 but a decree was granted after that date, the volume 999 entry was replaced with the Vital Statistics volume and record number. (See "Explanation of Entries in Divorce Index", GR-3255, B16263.) Not all pre-1935 divorces appear to have been included. If a name is not found, the individual court registry records should be checked. Each entry includes full name of husband and wife, place of divorce, date of final order, and Vital Statistics volume and record, or registration, number.

These indexes can also be used to identify court registry and final order date which can be used to assist in locating divorce orders within the court record series. Please note that for index entries prior to April 1935 only Victoria divorce orders appear in GR-3255. The others can be located in the individual court registry records. As well, any 1983 divorce orders with a registration number of 7501 or higher are not included in GR-3255 but can be found in the records of the court registries.

Vancouver divorce judgements by way of decree nisi.

Additional Vancouver divorce judgments by way of decree nisi, 1975-1976 (note overlap)

The series consists of six volumes of divorce trial record books created by the New Westminster Supreme Court between 1957 and 1977. The books are arranged in a similar manner to divorce cause books, but list the Central Divorce Registry file number rather than a volume and folio number. Divorce trial books also provide a list of exhibits used in the case, and the names of individuals who provided affidavits.

Similar to cause books, trial books provide evidence of divorce proceedings that may later have been abandoned or dismissed, thereby not resulting in a divorce order. In these cases, the trial record book and cause book may be the only evidence that still exists of such cases.

Records in the trial books are arranged chronologically from the back of the volume to the front, and are assigned a four-digit number in addition to the number provided by the Central Divorce Registry. Please see GR-3748 for alphabetical indexes to these volumes.

Researchers should note that the volumes were frequently referred to as "Divorce and Matrimonial Causes record books." This is in reference to legislation which governed divorces in BC until 1972, and does not refer to the type of court record known as a cause book.

The series consists of seven small volumes of indexes to divorce trial record books created in the New Westminster Supreme Court registry between 1967 and 1974. The indexes provide a number which can be used to locate the corresponding divorce trial record in the appropriate book. Trial books are arranged by this number in reverse order, with the earlier numbers found at the back of the book. Numbers were continuous across volumes and do not reset to 1.

It is unclear whether these indexes were originally tucked inside the trial record books, or if they were maintained separately as a manual indexing system.

The series consists of family orders created in the Supreme Court in Kimberley between 1982 and 1985 under the Family Relations Act. Orders are a formal expression of the court’s will. Each order relates to one divorce proceeding and is numbered chronologically by year of filing date. Orders may be filed months after being issued.

The series consists of originals of divorce case files from the years 1945, 1946, 1948-1949, and microfiched divorce case files from 1975 to 1980. Typical divorce case files can contain affidavits, petitions, correspondence and other records relating to the case.

This series contains a cause book for divorce and matrimonial causes (indexed).

The series consists of Ashcroft divorce case files from 1908 to 1945.

The series consists of orders and judgments created in Clinton County Court between 1972 and 1975. The series also consists of one index volume. The records include cases related to payment of wages, mechanic’s liens, and small claims. This volume also includes divorces. The series is covered by ORCS 51100-32 in Court Services schedule 100152.

Divorce cause books.

The series consists of Cranbrook divorce case files from 1909 to 1949.

The series consists of Cumberland divorce case files from 1937 to 1950.

The series consists of Duncan Supreme Court divorce case files from 1939, 1944-1948.

The series consists of Fernie Supreme Court divorce case files from 1907 to 1951.

Series consists of three divorce case files from the Nanaimo Supreme Court from 1900 and 1912.

The series consists of indexes to divorce cause books and case cards created by the Supreme Court of Victoria between 1965 and 1989. The indexes are arranged alphabetically and provide a case file number. This can then be used to locate the volume and folio number in the relevant cause book or case card, which can then in turn be used to obtain a copy of the divorce order.

The series consists of Kelowna divorce case files from 1924 to 1949.

The series consists of divorce index ledgers created by the Supreme Court in Penticton between 1977 and 1988. The ledgers are organized by year and alphabetically by surname of the divorcing party.

The location of the cause books to which the indexes refer is unknown.

Divorce case file (Chester Frederick Buchanan v Margaret Elise Buchanan and William Przybylskie aka William Watson).

The series consists of Vernon divorce case files from 1927 to 1933.

The series consists of Williams Lake divorce case files from 1935 to 1947.

The series consists of divorce case files created by the Smithers Supreme Court registry between 1929 and 1983. The series does not include records from 1949 to 1967 and the whereabouts of those records are unknown. The majority of case files include divorce orders. Typical divorce case files can include petitions, affidavits, court orders, and relate documents. The records dating from 1968 to 1983 generally contain court orders, correspondence, and the registration of divorce form.

Records dating from 1968 to 1983 are arranged by the number assigned by the Central Registry for Divorce Proceedings.

The series consists of Chilliwack divorce case files from 1939 to 1949.

The series consists of Grand Forks Supreme Court divorce case files from 1923 to 1946.

The series consists of Prince Rupert Supreme Court divorce case files from 1909 to 1949.

The series consists of divorce case files from the Princeton Supreme Court, 1928 to 1949. Most of these cases appear to have been tried elsewhere, primarily Vancouver.

The series consists of Quesnel divorce case files from 1930 to 1948.

The series consists of one volume of a Quesnel Supreme Court divorce cause book with an alphabetical index enclosed in the front. The records are arranged chronologically.

The series consists of Revelstoke divorce case files from 1905 to 1951.

The series consists of one divorce cause book (indexed) dating from 1969 to 1977 and one divorce record book (indexed) dating from 1978 to 1986 from the Princeton Supreme Court registry.

The cause book is arranged by file number (1/1969 to 32/1977) and typically includes the names of the parties and their solicitors, the case number, and details of proceedings with key dates. The record book is indexed by file number (33/1978 to 99/1986), is arranged by last name, and typically includes the names of parties, the case number, the wife’s maiden name, key dates of proceedings, and alpha-numeric codes for grounds. They were scheduled for full retention under Court Services ORCS (schedule 100152) 53200-20.