Marriage certificate

[Meaglin]

Just a general query (apologies if I have posted in the wrong place) at a family gathering this afternoon I was shown a copy of my grandparents marriage certificate , I had seen it before many years ago as my grandmother had 'altered her age on it in biro ' as she was 2 years older than my grandfather a great family joke. However on a more serious note we noticed that my grandmothers father's details had not been completed his name and occupation were blank and he was still alive at the time of the marriage. We do know that my grandfather changed religion to marry my grandmother, however as a family we wondered if it was possible not to enter your fathers details on a certificate, or was it the fact that my g grandfather disapproved and his details were not entere

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

The name of the natural father should be quoted. However, the name may be omitted (it is not compulsory to reveal the details and checks were unlikely to be made) or the name may be fictitious (in the case of an illegitimate child a fictitious name may have been given to save face).


Similarly, a father may be recorded as "deceased" when in fact he is alive and well, or he may not be recorded as deceased when he died many years earlier. In most cases it is wise to check the death index (along with the census if the time-frame fits) for a father regardless of the entry on a marriage certificate

[stanmapstone]

From the Notes of Guidance to the Clergy.
Column 7, ("Father's Name and Surname") The Name or Names and the Surname of the Father of each of the Parties should be inserted whether he be living or not; if either of the Fathers is deceased the word ("deceased") should be inserted below the Name and Surname. Persons of Illegitimate Birth are sometimes unwilling or unable to state the Name and the Rank or Profession of their Fathers. If, on these Particulars being asked for, there be any hesitation or reluctance to state them, no further inquiry need be made, and Columns 7 and 8 may be left blank; lines in ink should be drawn through the blank spaces.

Stan

[Meaglin]

Many thanks for your replies, we had wondered if it was a legal requirement to give the details and not leave the boxes blank. My grandmother obviously didn't want her fathers details on the certificate.