Divorce

[robie]

How do you find people who have been divorced and remarry?
What surnames are they under?

Kind regards,

Robert

[Ecneps]

Hi Robert,

The second marriages are usually registered under the last surname that they had, and when you see the certificate it should show both surnames as Mary Bloggs formerly Smith for example.

If you need further help, perhaps you'd like to let us know the names and dates

Barbara   

[stanmapstone]

If a woman was divorced it should say in column 2, as an example; Ann Meredith, formerly Brown (spinster) where Meredith is her married name and Brown her maiden name, and in column 4 Condition it should say  The divorced Wife of John Meredith

At least it does on the certificate I have 

Stan

[Ecneps]

Hi Stan, you probably know the answer to this one:

A marriage cert  that I have, dated 1914, states Ann B...(married name) formerly C...(maiden name) - next column: formerly the wife of John B.... from whom she obtained a divorce
- very informative

but on another, 1953, this time a divorced man, who obviously doesn't change his surname,  John B....,  Previous marriage dissolved
- no mention of his previous wife's name

Do you or does anyone know why?  Is it just to do with the surname change and not felt necessary because there was no change?

Barbara 

[Jebber]

Ecneps

I also have the second marriage certificate of a divorced man, in the Condition column it says "Formerly husband of Ann Mary Smith formerly Brown spinster from whom he obtained a divorce" so it seems that the amount of information to depends on whoever was filling in the certificate

Jebber

[Ecneps]

That's a lot of information, you're lucky, perhaps how much information is given depends on the date

Barbara

[Jebber]

My certificate was 1947, so only six years before yours. The marriage was in a Register Office, so perhaps they were more particular about the information, or it was that particular Registrar, some seem to be a law unto themselves.

Many years ago one Registrar refused to allow me to be a witness at a friends wedding because I was only eighteen, even though I was already married myself, it was only later that I found out from another Registrar that there was no age restriction and I could have insisted.

Jebber

[stanmapstone]

From the notes of guidance to the clergy with reference to the marriage registration acts;
Col.4 (Condition) In the event of the solemnization of the marriage of divorced persons the divorced man's condition should be entered in the following manner: "The divorced husband of Mary Robinson formerly Smith (spinster)." If the woman has been divorced, her condition should be inserted thus: "The divorced wife of Thomas Jones."
A divorced woman will be indexed in the GRO register under both her maiden name and her previous married name.

Stan

[Ecneps]

Thanks, Stan

Barbara