# Secret Security Clearance Reinvestigation Ex Wife **URL:** \ **Category:** SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A\ **Created:** [October 8, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927 "2020-10-08T22:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Halpppp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@Halpppp](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Halpppp)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/1 "2020-10-08T22:44:25Z")
I am due for a secret security clearance reinvestigation. Within that time, I was married and divorced (8 years ago). The divorce wasn’t a pleasant one, but thankfully, no children as the marriage lasted less than a year. There’s very little court documentation because my ex defaulted on the divorce papers which streamlined the process. I haven’t talked to my ex since, but I doubt they’d say great things about me (I know, I know, I’m not the first or the last to deal with this issue). My question is, for a secret clearance, will my ex be contacted? ---
**Author:** ![Marko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/marko/32/103_2.png) [@Marko](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Marko)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/2 "2020-10-08T22:46:27Z")
Yes, divorces that occurred within the past 10 years that were not covered in a previous investigation usually result in the ex-spouse being contacted. In current times that would probably be done over the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Halpppp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@Halpppp](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Halpppp)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/3 "2020-10-09T02:16:18Z")
Even if it’s not a TS and just a general Secret? From what I’ve been reading on other posts, the ex spouse is usually only interviewed if something is revealed during an interview. Perhaps something has changed? ---
**Author:** ![Marko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/marko/32/103_2.png) [@Marko](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Marko)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/4 "2020-10-09T02:18:40Z")
Level of clearance is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 10:09am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/5 "2020-10-11T10:09:04Z")
> [@Marko](#): > > Level of clearance is irrelevant Level of clearance is completely relevant, at least for DCSA. For an initial TS, ex-spouse will only be interviewed if divorce occurred within previous five years. For secret level/public trust, divorce will only be covered if there are indications of a flag level issue. ---
**Author:** ![Co0311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@Co0311](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Co0311)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:06pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/6 "2020-10-11T12:06:30Z")
> [@Halpppp](#): > > From what I’ve been reading on other posts When your investigator asks you questions, make sure not to respond with ‘well the internet said.’ ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/9 "2021-07-25T18:26:54Z")
> [@TAClearanceCheck](#): > > I guess there is no way to really know if they’ll talk to Ex-spouses huh? Anything is possible. If you think they will/might say negative things about you, bring it up during the interview when you are asked if anyone would not recommend you for a position involving . . . . ---
**Author:** ![QuestionOnSP85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/439d5e/32.png) [@QuestionOnSP85](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/QuestionOnSP85)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/10 "2026-01-04T00:53:50Z")
Hi Marko. Is this true for SF85p tier 2 investigations as well? Will they interview my ex spouse if within 10 years? ---
**Author:** ![Marko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/marko/32/103_2.png) [@Marko](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Marko)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 10:58am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/11 "2026-01-04T10:58:50Z")
No, that was for nly National Security investigations. ---
**Author:** ![USAFCrawdaddy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/usafcrawdaddy/32/2517_2.png) [@USAFCrawdaddy](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/USAFCrawdaddy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:45am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/secret-security-clearance-reinvestigation-ex-wife/11927/12 "2026-01-06T10:45:59Z")
Normally for a secret the ex spouse is not interviewed.