Married using surname other than on Birth Certificate

[Mr-H]

Back in 1947 my father- and mother-in-law got married, but she appears to have used a different surname on her Wedding Certificate to that shown on her Birth Certificate. Is this possible? Was she legally married for over 50 years?

[TheOtherHalf]

Im sure if you had been married before you would use your married name of the wedding cert ( i dont know if it would also include your birth surname )

[Mr-H]

Sorry - should have said she had not been married before. She was borne when her mother was a widow, and took her mothers married name, even though her Birth Certificate showed the surname of her real father (not her mother's husband)

[Mr-H]

Lets give an illustration - mothers married (widowed) surname is 'jones', girl's father is 'smith', and this name (smith) is shown on her Birth Certificate. She is known as 'mable jones' until she gets married as 'jones', although there is no paperwork to support this change. Is this marriage legal?

[Berkshirelad]

Anybody can use any name they choose providing it is not for fraudulaent purposes.

Deed Poll chnages are only required for official purposes (eg passport)

[Mr-H]

Sorry pinkilady - don't know what happened. Should be back now. Thanks for the advice - looks like my wife is legal afterall!!

[dotty.]

before 1972, noone was given a surname on their birth registration, only a Christlan name, the child was included in the index with the father's surname if he was on the entry or the mothers surbame if no father included, a child with such a registration can use the surname of the father as on the certificate, the mother as on the certificate or a combination of both, all of which was and is legal.

[dotty.]

anyone born before that date go and look at your full birth certificate, you do not have a registered surname

[dundurn]

Just about to tell you you were wrong Dotty, when I decided to check! Sure enough you're right 9 times out of 10. My wife (born England 1947) has no registered surname, but I (born Scotland 1948) do!!