Legally Married?

[michele67]

Im in the UK. .
After I was widowed I went back to my maiden name..by choice not legally..when I got married the second time I used my maiden name and not my legal married name..no questions were asked as my birth certificate shows the surname I was using at the time..just wondering if its legal marriage or not..thanks

[Brinjal]

I believe you can use any name. Maiden name, previous married name even if divorced and remarried. Some of the legal eagles on here will soon give you more info I'm sure.

[Maydup]

You can use any name you like, but for passport and driving licence you will need some evidence of it actually being your name. Either a birth certificate or a marriage certificate or a legal deed if its an optionally used name.

[Maydup]

I meant to add that the choice is yours, legally you are married but you are not obliged to use any name other than the one you chose to use.

[craft1948]

I re-married using my maiden name, but I also had to tell the registrar (by law) that I'd been married before and produce my decree absolute.

[boxtops]

Hmmm. I'm not sure. When I remarried, I had to show not only my original birth certificate, but also my divorce certificate - to show that the name in which I remarried was my name at the time.

I still use my original married name a lot of the time, particularly for work, but it does create complications since my passport (which is often used for ID) is in my current (2nd) married name - so I have to cart my marriage certificate about to show that Mrs X is also Mrs Y.

Didn't the registrar ask to see all your relevant documents, or did they assume that this was your first marriage?

I feel sure it will be OK, since you lost your husband as a widow rather than a divorce. Interested to know what others advise!

[Maydup]

OP was widowed so free to remarry and OK under the original maiden name.

[boxtops]

That's what I felt would be the difference, maydup.

[Smowball]

You can use any name.When I divorced I went back to maiden name by choice and used it on my marriage certificate.

[mariostewart62]

You are free to use any name, only your some Id proofs should have the same name or else it would be a problem.