Is this allowed?

sew_what

RAS wrote: »

In one case I know the step brother and sister were married for many years before their parents married, i.e, their widowed mum and dad married each other.

I'm married to my step brother - we'd been married for 15 years when my widowed Mum married my widowed Father in law.

It makes for easy choices at Christmas (no having to please the in-laws) and everyone in the family already knew each other!

codemonkey

This contains the list of people who can and can't marry each other in Scotland. I can't find a similar list for England and Wales, but it's probably not much different.

http://gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/registration/RM1-Leaflet.pdf

neverdespairgirl

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Henry VIII managed to marry his brother's widow and that was before he caused the "local difficulties" with the Roman Church.

But he needed a dispensation from the Pope (which was obtained by Catherine of Aragon's parents, Ferdinand and Isabella).

Don't rely on Tudor Canon law, anyway! There was a massive list of people you couldn't marry without a specific dispensation, up to 7th cousins, for example, or people who were related to your godparents, or step-relatives, too.

silvercar

codemonkey wrote: »

This contains the list of people who can and can't marry each other in Scotland. I can't find a similar list for England and Wales, but it's probably not much different.

http://gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/registration/RM1-Leaflet.pdf

Interesting in that there are some people who are not biologically connected and still cannot marry.

socks_uk

If two young people meet and get married, and then the mother of one married the dad of the other the 'children' would be step-siblings as well as husband and wife... just in a different chronological order to the OP's scenario!

Janepig

Soleil_lune wrote: »

Can't see anything on there that says that a person cannot marry their step sister or step brother. A man or woman can't marry their adopted child, of course (unless you're Woody Allen ) but you can marry your step siblings. Although if you had been together since 5 or 6 years old, it would seem a bit odd.

Not sticking up for Woody Allen or anything but I think she was Mia Farrow's adopted daughter, so effectively Woody Allen's step daughter if you like. Still gives me the heebie jeebies at the thought of it, but I don't think it's technically forbidden.

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

But he needed a dispensation from the Pope (which was obtained by Catherine of Aragon's parents, Ferdinand and Isabella).

I think it boiled down to whether Catherine of Aragon had consumated the marriage with his brother. She said they hadn't which gave the green light for her to marry Henry. Then when he was trying to divorce her he tried to get evidence that she had consumated the marriage. Or something like that anyway. Basically Henry VIII made it up as he went along

Jx

Scrapaholic

I was just thinking of Woody Allen but don't know if he actually married his stepdaughter . I know two people who are step brother and sister , married with 2 children .

chirpchirp

I think you might find this link useful, don't confuse religious law with law of the land.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nireland/relationships_ni/relationships_living_together_and_marriage_ni/getting_married.htm#Who_can_get_married

Emmylou_2

Oh you can definitely marry your sibling's ex. It does lead to any (existing) children becoming their own cousins though.

My dad divorced my mum and married her younger sister. My dad is therefore also my uncle. Your uncle's children are your cousins. I am therefore my own cousin.

(And my father is a toxic !!!!!!, but that's beside the point)

GracieP

Soleil_lune wrote: »

Can't see anything on there that says that a person cannot marry their step sister or step brother.

It says that in order to find out about marrying a step relative you must consult with an experienced advisor as they can only marry in certain circumstances.

People who are step relations or in-laws may marry only in certain circumstances. For information about when step relations and in-laws can marry, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau.