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Array
(
    [entityType] => ITEM
    [entity] => Array
        (
            [contextId] => aims
            [description] => Array
                (
                    [0] => A divorce is the official termination of a marriage. Divorce files contain all the legal documentation required for the granting of a divorce. These files relate to divorces conducted through the Hamilton Supreme/High Court.
                )

            [id] => 5153
            [idSort] => 5153
            [name] => Hamilton divorce files - first sequence
            [custom] => Array
                (
                    [custom5] => Quarto, Foolscap and Legal size papers, folded and tied with cotton ribbon.
                )

            [identifier] => Array
                (
                    [priref] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => 14224
                        )

                )

            [authenticityNote] => Papers were filed after the closing date of series registration.
            [digitalRecordInArchive] => 
            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                (
                    [normalizedValue] => 1910-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => exact
                            [1] => yearOnly
                        )

                )

            [hasEndDate] => Array
                (
                    [normalizedValue] => 1965-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => exact
                            [1] => yearOnly
                        )

                )

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                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Legal Files
                            [type] => SeriesFormat
                        )

                )

            [history] => 
A divorce is the official termination of a marriage. Once a Decree Absolute, the final decree in divorce proceedings, has been granted, it becomes lawful for the respective parties to marry again as if the prior marriage had been dissolved by death. Divorce files contain all the legal documentation required for the granting of a divorce.
Note however that not everyone who filed a petition for divorce actually completed the divorce proceedings. If the parties reconciled after the petition was filed, then the divorce proceedings stopped. If later they wished to terminate the marriage then a new file was started under a new number. Some parties commenced divorce proceedings more than once over a number of years. In some of these cases the husband may have been the petitioner in the first proceedings, and in the second file the wife is the petitioner and the husband the respondent. Petitioning for divorce does not always end in the termination of a marriage. Researchers should not assume that because the family lived in one area, that a divorce could not therefore be filed in a different district.
Divorce files are particularly valuable for genealogical and social research - they give detailed information about the persons involved. A divorce file should contain most of the following information:

    
Full name of husband
    
Occupation
    
Full name of wife
    
Wife’s maiden name
    
Where both husband and wife currently reside
    
Date of marriage
    
Place of marriage e.g. church, chapel, registry office, house etc.
    
Area/location where marriage took place
    
Name of minister / registrar / celebrant
    
Copy of marriage certificate
    
Cause of application and dates of events / incidents/ behaviour
    
Name of co-respondent
    
Co-respondent’s occupation
    
Co-respondent’s current address
    
Place of birth of husband and wife
    
Name of Petitioner’s / Respondent’s / Co-respondent’s Solicitors
    
Full names of the children of the marriage
    
Ages of the children at time of the petition
    
Occasionally personal letters, postcards, or photographs submitted in evidence
    
From about 1889 onwards occasionally photographs (usually of the respondent)

From 1966 the divorces files were registered using an annual number system.
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                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [type] => YearStartHoldings
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1910-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [hasEndDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [type] => YearEndHoldings
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1984-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

            [isAssociatedWithPlace] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Auckland repository
                        )

                )

            [itemType] => Series
            [managementRelation] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Hamilton High Court
                            [type] => controlled_by
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1910-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [hasEndDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1992-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [itemType] => Agency
                            [relationHasSource] => BCDG
                        )

                )

            [rdfType] => recordSet
            [recordIsMissing] => 
            [recordResourceRelation] => Array
                (
                    [0] => 4150
                )

            [ricClassification] => NUMERICAL
            [ricClassificationDescription] => Running Number System
            [sequentialRelation] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Auckland Divorce files
                            [type] => preceding
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1910-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [itemType] => Series
                            [relationHasTarget] => 4984
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Hamilton divorce files - second sequence
                            [type] => succeeding
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1966-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [itemType] => Series
                            [relationHasSource] => 5154
                        )

                )

            [seriesAccessContacts] => 

	The Manager, Hamilton High Court.

	Permission to access restricted records should be sought from the Hamilton High Court. Please check the Ministry of Justice’s website for the most up to date contact details at:

	http://www.justice.govt.nz/services/finding-your-local-court/finding-your-local-court'

	Permission to access Dissolution Orders can be sought from:

	Research email: auckland.archives@dia.govt.nz

	Or write to:

	Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office

	PO Box 201 103, Auckland Airport,

	Manukau 2150,

	New Zealand
            [seriesRestrictionReason] => 

	The records are restricted for 100 years from closure of record.

	Records containing sensitive personal information are restricted indefinitely.

	Access to restricted records is subject to the written authorisation of the Court Manager.

	Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union Records

	Under both High Court Rules and Family Court Rules former parties to a marriage or a civil union have an unrestricted right to obtain a copy of the order dissolving the marriage or civil union. These dissolution orders can be viewed at, or copies obtained from Archives New Zealand on production of sufficient proof of identity (photo identification e.g. passport/drivers’ licence).
            [setSpec] => series
        )

)