Marriage Certificates and Data Protection

Mojisola

peachyprice wrote: »

No you don't need info only you would know. I think your local office are just lazy.


Unfortunately it's not a question of your local office being 'strict'. Birth, marriage and death certificates are public records, anyone can search for them. However, if they are missing relevant information like specific dates and full names of other parties they're not going to be able to get a copy from official sources purely because they won't be prepared to do the search with not enough info.

There's nothing to stop anyone searching through records themselves though, but they would need a lot of time on their hands. The only thing you can't get a copy of is a birth cert for recent births, but that's only to stop ID fraud.

If you use a site like Ancestry or Find My Past, you can easily find the information you need in order to buy a certificate. If the name is common, it might take some time but, if you have an area and an approximate time frame, not too long.

daisiegg

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I thought they were essentially public documents, searchable and viewable by all

Why anyone things your birthdate or mother's maiden name are worthy of being passwords, i'll never know. They are inherently insecure

PS. If you're ever asked your 'mothers maiden name' for a password - you don't actually have to use the real name. Treat it like a password

Oh absolutely - just pick something you will remember!

peachyprice

Mojisola wrote: »

If you use a site like Ancestry or Find My Past, you can easily find the information you need in order to buy a certificate. If the name is common, it might take some time but, if you have an area and an approximate time frame, not too long.

I was thinking more in OP's case they're worried about getting married because it will make them traceable, but unless someone knows roughly where and when it would take a fair bit longer to trace.

Mojisola

GoldenShadow wrote: »

Do you need specific info to gain access to the likes of a marriage certificate? Does it show addresses and all names?

It makes me feel as though I never dare get married

This - https://www.leics.gov.uk/marriage_cerificate_help.pdf - explains what information is on a marriage certificate.

Like fluffnutter said - talk to Women's Aid about your worries for your safety. They will be able to advise you on things to do.

InsideInsurance

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I thought they were essentially public documents, searchable and viewable by all

Why anyone things your birthdate or mother's maiden name are worthy of being passwords, i'll never know. They are inherently insecure

PS. If you're ever asked your 'mothers maiden name' for a password - you don't actually have to use the real name. Treat it like a password

Not essentially, they are public records.

Your mothers maiden name isnt shown on your marriage certificate unless your maiden name is also your mothers but that wont be clear from the document. The only family on the certificate is your fathers name, their profession plus an additional note if they are/ were retired and/ or deceased.

Someone could guess if the womans surname doesnt match their fathers and their status is noted as spinster then it is probably their mothers maiden name but its a fair bit of guessing and of cause if her status is divorcee/ widow then it could be the maiden name or her exs surname

If you marry overseas then there is nothing that HAS to be done here and so local searches wouldnt identify the fact you are now married. You can optionally deposit your foreign marriage certificate with the GRO so they will make official copies for you in the future but I believe it then becomes a public record again however it will not be transferred to a UK style certificate and so if the foreign country doesnt record address at time of marriage on it then the duplicated anyone else can request will not contain your address.

Mojisola

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Your mothers maiden name isnt shown on your marriage certificate unless your maiden name is also your mothers but that wont be clear from the document. The only family on the certificate is your fathers name, their profession plus an additional note if they are/ were retired and/ or deceased.

But it's very easy from the information on a marriage certificate to find someone's birth cert and that will have the mother's maiden name on it.

There was a thread on here (maybe a year or so ago?) from someone who was very worried about people tracing her through a relative's will. An executor has to find people left an inheritance and, if necessary, will use professionals to track someone down.

claire16c

TeamLowe wrote: »

Also please note that if you are planning a wedding you need to give Notice of Intention to Marry, and this must be displayed in the registry office where you gave notice for three weeks and I have seen notices where it refers to previous names and usually lists the place you intend to marry.

What are the rules if you marry abroad? Does that get entered on to the UK registers? It's just a short hop on a ferry to France...

Yup I got married abroad & so there's no record of me being married here. So the OP could do that. Although funnily enough probably not in France as its one of the hardest countries to get married in I think you have to live there for 6 weeks before or something!

GoldenShadow

Thank you for your time and all the posts. I will look into Women's Aid.

Fluffnutter you are right. They were eligible for parole and it was refused, they are now eligible again and have not yet applied (unless I haven't been notified as I am meant to be). Its most likely irrational but a constant fear I have none the less. The thought of them being released makes me a wreck, I don't know if I will dare leave the house if/when it happens. Realistically they could be refused parole constantly until they die, but equally they could be released if they apply again.

I don't want to lose my middle name as its about the only thing I have from my Dad who has disowned me. I feel like I've already done enough to try and free myself ie. changing my name originally, moving house, losing contact with a lot of people.

Not looking to get married for a couple years but abroad isn't really an option sadly (I would love to marry somewhere in Europe regardless of the tracking issues). We'd never be able to get everyone organised family wise (ie. two sets of parents and siblings with awkward holidays) and OH's brother and OH will never marry, so he feels his parents would be hugely upset if we just did it on the quiet with a couple of friends.

People certainly aren't wrong when they say this stuff haunts you for the rest of your life, in more ways than can be imagined, as this thread shows

TeamLowe

you could have your legal marriage somewhere else then do it again here- a colleague got married in Australia without telling anyone, then when they got back here had a registry office ceremony and only one person cottoned on when they didn't ask 'does anyone know of any lawful impediment...'

Gloomendoom

I'm surprised the registrar was prepared to carry out a meaningless ceremony.