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Can I get divorced without my marriage certificate?

To get a divorce in England and Wales, you must provide the court with a copy of your original marriage certificate.

If you have lost it, or your ex-partner won’t give it to you this can be a problem to getting the divorce process started. If you haven’t got your original marriage certificate, you will need to get a certified copy marriage certificate..

This is relatively straight forward, you can do this by applying to the General Register Office.

Details on how to apply can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

There is a fee of £14 for the service and you can pay extra for a next day option.

If you were married outside of England and Wales, you will need to contact the relevant authorities in that country to obtain a copy of your marriage certificate. The country’s embassy is a good place to start, they should be able to direct you to the right agency.

If your marriage certificate is not in English, you will need to provide the court with a certified English translation when making the divorce application.

Choosing the right solicitor for your matter is crucial and we therefore offer a free initial consultation so that you can find out more about our services and decide whether we are the right fit for you. 

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family law, parenting, family court, contact order, child arrangement order, residence order

New legislation raises minimum age to marry to 18 in England and Wales

Previously people (children) could get married at 16 to 17 as long as they had parental consent.

This new law applies to regulated marriages as well as unregulated ceremonies that are not registered with the local council.

The penalty for adults who facilitate the marriage of an under 18 includes up to 7 years imprisonment and a fine.  The penalties do not apply to any children involved. 

Significantly the rules are to apply to marriages abroad so will include adults who take children out of this country to facilitate a marriage. 

The bill has sailed through Parliament with little opposition and will receive Royal Assent later this week.

The new legislation will not affect the validity of any marriages or civil partnerships that took place prior to the new law coming into force.

This change is not UK wide, in Northern Ireland and Scotland the minimum age for marriage remains at 16, in Northern Ireland you still need parental consent but in Scotland it is not required. 

Choosing the right solicitor for your matter is crucial and we therefore offer a free initial consultation so that you can find out more about our services and decide whether we are the right fit for you. 

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