Are there any records of annulments in Canada around 1920 [closed]

Question

I'm trying to find a record of a marriage in Manitoba and a subsequent annulment about 3 weeks later in either Manitoba or Ontario. I don’t even have correct names as I think false ones may have been given.

Does anyone know if there are records of annulments available anywhere.

Thanks

Answer 1

Here is the Government of Canada database for divorces from 1840 to 1968:

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/vital-statistics-births-marriages-deaths/divorce-1841-1968/Pages/acts-divorce-1841-1968.aspx#a.

Although this database does not include every divorce in Canada before the passage of the Federal Divorce Act of 1968, it includes over 12,000 entries. Before Confederation in 1867, only five divorces were granted and they needed Acts of Parliament. After Confederation, to get a divorce, a couple needed to publish their intent in three newspapers for six months and then Acts of Parliament were required.

This changed when the Federal Divorce Act was passed. In 1968, with the passage of this new law, divorces were much easier to obtain. It was at this time that a young Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Minister of Justice, explained to Canadians why it was important that this law be passed, by stating, "there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation".

Comments

Thanks for the info

Answer 2

Annulments were unusual for the 1920's in Canada, even Divorce information was held by the local court house if they bothered to do one.  My experience has been that because there was not a central records for these things and most people did not bother and there wasn't the communication that we do today that people just moved on.  Some moved and just used a different name or changed one letter in their new name, they went on to marry others without notifying anyone that they had been married before.  The only divorce records I have been able to find even to the 1940's are because there was some legal issue ie land, children that they wanted given to, etc.   You may find a marriage record if you know the town, church, etc.  Or newspapers for the area, historical records or family history by children or others may fill in some blanks. Good luck in your search.

Comments

Thanks Lynn , it was a bit of a shot in the dark but I thought I’d ask.

Johanne

Answer 3

hi J,

Would help if you linked to a profile, the field is otherwise rather broad.  

When you speak of annulment, these are normally done by clergy, unlike divorces, which are done by civil authorities (courts).  So you would have to be very clear as to which it is.  Annulments have a limited number of causes that justify them as far as clergy is concerned.  So your first order of business is to find the actual marriage, and there may be indications on that record.

Comments

Danielle,

Thanks, I don’t have names. This is a bit of a mystery to solve. I hoped if there were any annulment records I could match these to a marriage. But i did realise it was a bit unlikely.

I’ll just hope for another break some other direction.

johanne