A final divorce is one that irrevocably terminated the marriage relationship.
Apply State law to determine whether a divorce is final, limited, or preliminary.
(For State laws for the effective date of dissolution, see GN 00305.165.)
If, at the NH's death, the divorce was not effective so as finally to dissolve the
marriage, the claimant may be able to qualify for mother's/father's insurance benefits
as the NH's widow(er) rather than as a surviving divorced mother/father.