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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Stevie8485 on Wednesday 18 December 24 18:44 GMT (UK)

Title: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: Stevie8485 on Wednesday 18 December 24 18:44 GMT (UK)
Hopefully I'm doing this correctly :).  In 1920 in Australia, would it be legal for a female spouse of a  living male resident in a lunatic asylum to re-marry or would that be bigamy. Thank you.
Title: Re: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: jorose on Thursday 19 December 24 07:26 GMT (UK)
It would be considered bigamy, although from around this time, "lunacy" became grounds for divorce:

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4587767
Title: Re: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: Stevie8485 on Thursday 19 December 24 19:12 GMT (UK)
Many thanks for such a quick response and info.
Title: Re: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: Peter L. Mitchell on Saturday 21 December 24 22:23 GMT (UK)
You might find more information if you search the Public Records Office records for your state. The PROV (Victoria) has a large collection of documents, and you can go in and see and photograph them. I'd imagine that access to other states' records would be the same. Worth a try. Good luck with your search.
Title: Re: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: Stevie8485 on Saturday 21 December 24 23:12 GMT (UK)
Thank you for your suggestion .. I'm a UK resident but certainly worth checking them online.  :)
Title: Re: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: giblet on Sunday 22 December 24 04:43 GMT (UK)
You could try the marriage certificate for her second marriage and see what she noted as her status, such as divorced etc.
Title: Re: Defining BIGAMY in 1920 Australia re Lunatic asylum resident spouse
Post by: Stevie8485 on Monday 23 December 24 13:03 GMT (UK)
Quote from: giblet on Sunday 22 December 24 04:43 GMT (UK)
You could try the marriage certificate for her second marriage and see what she noted as her status, such as divorced etc.

Thank you, she is given as 'widow' but her husband was alive and in the lunatic asylum - hence wondering if that was sufficient to permit her to remarry, but the dates look skewed against it.