To wonder why forms have tick boxes which state divorced

[exmrs]

As above just wondering why forms have tick boxes where you state married, co habiting, single and then divorced usually in that order
Why wouldn't someone just tick single if you aren't married anymore and they are single?

Why do people have to state divorced, what does it matter ?
What would you tick if divorced and then cohabiting?

It really bugs me this that divorced has a category all on its own, aibu

[LittleVikingChick]

I agree, it is silly to have to have divorced as a category, once it is settled you are single again. The category divorce feels like a "damaged goods-alert". Settled, over with and single again. YANBU.

[FudgefaceMcZ]

Yes, that confuses me too. Especially when I had recently been dumped by ex2, after being divorced from ex1- was I single because of most recent relationship breakdown, or divorced because I had been married at one point? And yes, of course you can be divorced and cohabiting- or indeed divorced and married! If they just need to know whether you are the only adult in the household, that should be a simple enough question as is.

YANBU.

[Nomama]

It's for things like identity checks and, nowadays, money laundering etc.

They want to know if you have ever been known by any other name. If you just put 'I am single' they wouldn't know if you had ever been married and therefore been known, financially and legally by any other name.

Imagine if you had a criminal record or CCJs in your married name.....

Cohabiting is to check your joint finances... you may be tied to a serial bankruptee etc.

That and sometimes they are just collecting info for info's sake.

[LizSurly]

Yeh, so true. just tick single!

[JonSnowIsAProperLover]

I tick 'single'.

Although I'm not, I live with DP. But quite frankly it's no one's business anyway..!

[Birdsgottafly]

It depends on what the form is for.

I am Widowed, that is what I tick, it then cuts down the questions about my children's other parent, maintenance, sole ownership and PR etc.

If you are divorced, you may have financial responsibilities, or pending debts, that may not show up straight away, as they would for a single person.

If it is part of a contract and you fill in the wrong tick box, you are liable, but it can release the other party, so they don't pick up the bill.

I have had to send copies of my, Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and my DH's Death Certificate to show that I am who I say I am.

[LittleVikingChick]

Replying to this just before going to bed last night made me dream that my husband wanted a divorce. Told him about my dream over breakfast today. He replied "Why the h* would I want a divorce, nobody else would have me"

[fenix]

Nomama, many of us don't change our names on marriage...

[LineRunner]

I was asked this when I went into the hospital for surgery. Even the nurse said it was stupid.

[LittleVikingChick]

I think it's often there for no good reason, just 'old habit'. In my country, once the estate is settled you have no more obligations towards each other. So in all practical sense you are single again. You do of course have obligations towards upkeep of children if they live with your ex, however the rules are the same whether you were married or not.

[Nomama]

fenix, is that really all you took from my post?

I don't understand why some posters are saying they just tick single or ignore it. With some forms that could cause all sorts of problems - that's all I was trying to say. The gender politics of married names didn't even cross my mind!