Marital Status

Legendaryjim

Hi all. hope you're all enjoying your Sunday.

I have been trying to find out the answer to the question of what my official, legal and in practice marital status is.

I left my wife back in 2007 and have been living with my girlfriend since then.
My wife and I have yet to get divorced for financial reasons that don't affect this question but we both class ourselves as not married to each other.

My partner and I who is divorced herself, live together with our children as if we are married and have joint accounts etc.

Would my marital status still be "Married" because technically I still am, or would it be something like "Co-Habiting" or "Living with Partner"
Equally, would my partner be classed as Single or divorced or living with partner.

I am trying to fill in some forms with regard to debt but I don't know how to answer this standard question.

In the eyes of the Tax Credit people for example, I think they accept that My girlfriend and I are a couple as if we were actually married.

Please help me find my identity. :-)

p.s Yes I know I should just get divorced and remarry. :-)

Tigsteroonie

It depends on the purpose of the form! I could be described as single (as in I am unmarried), divorced (for I have been married) or co-habiting (as I live with Marley).

I generally pop for co-habiting on everything except government/hmrc forms, where I put divorced. I don't hide the fact that we live together, before anybody thinks that; it's just that I've found their forms only say single/married/divorced/widowed and don't have a fifth option.

maman

I was filling out a form for car insurance recently which had options for marital status. I'd say that separated is what fits your circumstances best.
But what the form is for might have some relevance otherwise I don't see why you've described your situation in such detail.y

Georgiegirl256

Most forms have separated as an option now, so that's probably the best option for you to choose of possible.

Legendaryjim

Good information. Thanks guys.

The form is an N9A admission form from a court in Northampton, about a small debt.
The choices are Married, Single or Other (Please Specify)

Tigsteroonie

"Other - separated" suggests (to me) that you live on your own.

"Other - cohabiting" suggests that you are living together but unmarried.

Personally I'd go for the latter.

Mojisola

Legendaryjim wrote: »

I have been trying to find out the answer to the question of what my official, legal and in practice marital status is.

I left my wife back in 2007 and have been living with my girlfriend since then.

My partner and I who is divorced herself, live together with our children as if we are married and have joint accounts etc.

Not relevant to your question but, if you haven't made a will stating who would inherit from you, your wife will be your major beneficiary even though you are separated.

Legendaryjim

Nice one thanks :-)

Legendaryjim

Mojisola wrote: »

Not relevant to your question but, if you haven't made a will stating who would inherit from you, your wife will be your major beneficiary even though you are separated.

Well that would totally suck if that happens. Can you get free wills these days? Not that I have much to leave anyway. That's made me wonder about the next of kin question now. Is she still legally my next of kin?

Mojisola

Legendaryjim wrote: »

Well that would totally suck if that happens. Can you get free wills these days? Not that I have much to leave anyway. That's made me wonder about the next of kin question now. Is she still legally my next of kin?

Yes. For medical matters, you can name your partner -
https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/advice-and-support/next-of-kin/

Also worth having a letter naming her kept with your GP and hospital records.

Valli

What about just putting other then adding married but not to my partner with whom I live?

On a side note, however, I assume you are aware that, should the unthinkable happen your co-habitee would have no claim to your estate but your estranged wife would! Unless, of course, you have written a will, although your wife could contest it. Mind you, you would also have a claim to hers.