Genealogy Chat

I got married in 1961 and did not need to show identification. Also it was not in my home town but the city 10 miles away. Another thing I got married by special licence (24 hours) and no I was NOT pregnant. Pat

Well this is going back to the early 1900,s,but my grandad and his elder brother anglisied their names and married in the english name no ref made on the marriage certs to any german connection other than fathers name on grandads was correctly stated ,but elder bros cert he anglisied his dads name too

Thanks for the replies. I was only asking as when I have been browsing PRs I have come across a couple of marriages where the groom had changed his name by deed poll and this was in fact entered on the certificate. I guess I will just have to wait for the certificate, although if it does or does not, I do not fancy the challenge of the Austria-Hungarian records. :) Andy

If you are giving notice of marriage these days, you certainly have to provide evidence of identity, preferably in the form of a passport or other photo ID or if neither are available, a birth certificate. Obviously, none of these are completely watertight but in front of the registrar, you are expected to tell the truth and it is pointed out to you before you sign the notice that wilful telling of untruths will see you liable for prosecution under the Perjury Act of 1911. You also have to provide recent proof of address, proof of a decree absolute if you are divorced or a death cert if you are widowed. There are various other bits of documentation also required if you are a foreigner, depending on where you are from. If a marriage goes ahead on false pretences of any kind, you can be prosecuted and the marriage becomes invalid (again you are made aware of this before you sign). I don't know when this system came in but it's certainly the current one. Jack

The only way to find out whether the certificate has his former name on it is when you get to see it! Incidentally, it's unlikely that he went through any formal process to change his name.

I don't believe that it has ever been necessary to prove your identity when marrying in England. Foreign nationals are entitled to marry in this country without restriction.

I am currently doing my Nephews/Sister-in-laws family tree to give as a surprise in later life. His grandfather came over from Hungary and from what I could gather changed his name to a more English version of his surname. I have just found the GRO reference for the marriage and have sent off to Southport for the copy, will this have this former name on like I have seen on other marriage certificates, or will I have to ruin the surprise and ask my sister-in-law? Cheers Andy