Rayhana Kausar, Graduate Chartered Legal Executive in Astle Paterson’s Family Department discusses the recent BBC report that the “Marriage certificate could include mothers’ name.”
On 4th June 2014 an early day motion was put forward in Parliament to alter the Marriage certificate to include a record of both the mother and the father of the bride and groom.
At this stage 105 M.P’s support the motion and the support has come from across the political spectrum.
Rayhana notes that “Whilst Northern Ireland and Scotland have space on their Marriage certificates for a mother’s name, the certificates in England & Wales do not.
A campaign on petitioning website, change.org was set up to “get the law changed so that there is a space for mothers’ names on marriage certificates” and, as at date, it has attracted over 68,000 supporters from the general public.
An early day motion has now been placed before Parliament to alter the rules so that “our law should not perpetuate the offensive and outdated message that marriage is a business transaction between fathers.”
Further, Culture Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed he has discussed the issue with the Home Secretary and they “are currently considering a range of options.”
However, a spokeswoman for the Home Office has said that “Replacing all the certificates held by local authorities, in churches and other religious buildings is logistically complex and costly but we are investigating how this change may be achieved.””
Should you wish to discuss issues concerning a separation from your partner with Rayhana Kausar, Graduate Chartered Legal Executive in Astle Paterson’s Family Department, please contact her on 01283 531366 or by way of email at rkausar@astlepaterson.co.uk
Please click to read the Petition that “Mother’s names should be on Marriage certificates” and to read the Early Day Motion “Mother’s names and Marriage Certificates”
