Genealogy Chat

I remeber showing mine .because we had to find it before hand. that was in a registry office though, might be different in a church wedding. Kim

When I was searching for my husband's Mother's marriage i asked this question in a FH magazine. A vicar wrote to me and said birth certificates had never and were not required to be produced before a marriage. Ann Glos

Off the internet: " Giving Notice at a Register Office Each party to the marriage will need to attend at the register office in person and give notice of their intention to marry. This will be the case even when you live in the same registration district. You will not have to attend together but will be encouraged to do so. To arrange to meet with a superintendent registrar, you should telephone or write for an appointment. You may be asked to produce documents as evidence of name and age, usually in the form of passports, birth certificates, ID cards etc. This list is not exhaustive and other documents may also be acceptable. If you have been previously married, you will be required to provide evidence of the termination of that marriage by either death, divorce, or nullity." This is presumably current, but it only says "may be asked". I think I showed my cheque guarantee card as proof of identity. I didn't need to prove my age as I wasn't a child bride! nell

I definately didn't have to show a full birth certificate when I married:) David

Hi, my nana was born in 1905 and my grandad in 1900. I have no trace what so ever of any birth certificates but I do have their marriage certificate in 1931, so my guess is that they didnt have to produce birth certificates. If they did I would love to know where to find them !!! carol

I think vicars were more interested in proof of baptism, if indeed they wanted any proof. Before 1900 literacy rates weren't high, people might not bother to keep a piece of paper they couldn't read.

I don't recall having to show a birth certificate when we got married ?

I don't think they had to show birth certificates in the 19th century , I think that came in early 20th century. Kim

thanks that explains why he was about 6 years younger than he said he was and I thought only women lied about their ages