Divorced last year, remarrying this year

angelinamay

Hi,

I was married some years ago in a civil ceremony in the UK. Moved to husbands land of birth, but was told because HE was Catholic and I wasn't, the civil marriage wasn't recognised there, he WASN'T married but I was, and we'd need to marry again, in a Catholic church. We did so, so two marriages, same person within 2 years. Last year, we divorced in the UK. and I plan to re-marry in Autumn. My question is this: Do I need to inform the Register Office here in England that I was also married in the Catholic church abroad? Thanks,

Mands

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6678941/divorced-last-year-remarrying-this-year

The second service would have been a convalidation within the church, not an actual wedding, surely? Although would have the appearance of a wedding, with vows etc.

No one issued a second wedding certificate did they?

Out of interest: which country?

silvercar

In the UK, you can’t marry someone civilly twice, in fact you can’t marry if you are married. Whether the UK recognises a religious wedding ceremony in the country concerned is a separate question. If it does, then the divorce should apply to it too.

A difference question may be whether a UK civil divorce is recognised by the country where you had the second “wedding”. Otherwise you could end up divorced in the UK but still considered married in the country concerned.

We did so, so two marriages, same person within 2 years.

I was married some years ago in a civil ceremony in the UK.

Is that 3 marriages or 2?

RAS

Do you have a financial settlement in place?

If not, your ex could ask for a division of assets in many year's time. Remarriage prevents you from making any further claims on assets of the first marriage, which could include property outside Great Britain.

Do go see a good lawyer experienced with multinational marriage and divorce, now. It'll cost but might prove cheap long run.

angelinamay

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094119#Comment_82094119

Thank you yes. It was Malta, 🙂

angelinamay

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094119#Comment_82094119

Yes, I think you're right. It was Malta.

angelinamay

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094147#Comment_82094147

Two marriages, Civil in UK divorced last year. Catholic church in Malta, 1971.

silvercar

according to AI -

“Yes, you can have a Catholic religious ceremony in Malta if you are already civilly married in the UK, but it will be treated by the Catholic Church as a validation or blessing of your existing union rather than a first canonical marriage, and you must get explicit permission from the local Maltese diocese”

So your catholic marriage was probably religious only, in which case the UK divorce courts won’t be interested in it. Though if you are having a religious wedding here, it would be worth mentioning this.

angelinamay

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094557#Comment_82094557

Yes we do. All organised and settled.

angelinamay

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094644#Comment_82094644

No, NO religion, 🙂

silvercar

Just to add, a UK civil divorce may not be recognised by the Malta catholic churches as valid, so they may still consider you religiously married.