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Is there a legal age for a wedding witness?
| Profile | Posted by | Options | Post Date |
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Twinkle | Report | 26 May 2004 19:49 |
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It used to be legal for 12 and 14 year olds to marry, so presumeably they were also old enough to witness a marriage. |
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Caroline | Report | 26 May 2004 16:29 |
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Thanks everyone! My witness was the bride's younger brother and he was even able to sign, which surprised me. Caroline |
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Unknown | Report | 26 May 2004 15:09 |
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This intrigues me too. I remember when I was a bridesmaid for my cousin she checked that I would be 18 before the wedding took place so that I could also be a witness. Many of my relies have witnesses who are young. "The witnesses should be personally known to the bride or groom. After all their function is to witness in a court of law what they heard and saw at a marriage ceremony and it might be necessary to contact them at a later stage to witness on your behalf. However, some couples do use witnesses off the street that they do not know from Adam! It is not necessary for a marriage register to be completed and signed for the marriage to be legal. The marriage is valid in law once the declaration and contract have been verbally made - hence the witnesses. There are no laws concerning the age of marriage witnesses - they need to be old enough to function properly as a witness that is all." I got this from http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/indexbd.htm which is a very useful source of info on BMD certs - I think the compiler is a registrar. Helen |
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Geoff | Report | 26 May 2004 13:52 |
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As long as they were old enough to know what was going on, that was old enough. I have seen several web discussions on this subject but no-one has ever provided any evidence that a minimum age existed. |
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Margaretfinch | Report | 26 May 2004 13:44 |
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Hi Caroline on one of my certificates a Witness was 12 I thought it was young she was a witness for her sister. Margaret |
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Researching: |
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Caroline | Report | 26 May 2004 12:24 |
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Does anyone know if a witness to a wedding (in 1859) had to be "of age" or could it be a twelve year old boy? It seems the witness on my certificate was only 12. Thanks for your help. Caroline |
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