AO application - marriage cert?

[paulwellersjam]

Straightforward adoption from an LA. DH and I.

I can't work out if we need to send a marriage certificate. If we do it's a PITA as it's a certified copy so it'll mean sorting it out with the registrar etc. SW seems to think we need it but I can't work out if we'd only need it if, for e.g, he was my biological child and DH was adopting him?

Anyone know? Off the top of their head?

I have no idea whether you need one or not, sorry! But all certificates issued are certified copies of the original, so if you do need it, just order a copy from the GRO online. Less than a tenner and they don't take long to arrive. There's no need to faff around contacting the registrar surely?

From memory - yes. I'm sure we sent ours in.

Yes, we sent ours.

We sent ours as well!

I needed to send a full birth certificate or a marriage certificate , which caused some delay as I had neither . That hadn't occurred to them when they drafted the procedures

Whoops didn't send one with our AO application so guess we will be asked for it shortly. Good to have the heads up

We've sent ours and haven't yet had it returned!

Yes - all marriage certificates are 'certified copies' of the original entry in the register of marriage. There is no such thing as an original certificate. You can order multiple copies online of any birth, death or marriage certificate - as I found out when dealing with my dad's estate after he died!

You can get a 'certified copy' at a solicitors.
They photocopy an original and put a their stamp on it saying it is a true copy.

You should only need a solicitor (or other person of good standing) to certify documents which aren't already certified eg. a passport, or a license etc.

Birth, marriage and death certificates are already certified by the registrar/General Register Office when they are printed and sent out. A Marriage Certificate will have "Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage" typed along the top, and then on the bottom (if you order online from the GRO) it will have their stamp.

Yes, sorry I wasn't clear.

I should have said, if you don't want to send your one and only version of your marriage certificate with your AO in case they lose it or whatever, then you can get it photocopied and 'certified' by a solicitor.

This is faster than getting another 'original looking' version.

Any idea how much it costs to get a solicitor to do this? We got married abroad and if they lose ours it is a lot more difficult to get a new one so this sounds like a good plan.

Sorry, can't remember - too many years ago since we did this.

I wish - is your marriage certificate in English ? If not you will need to get it translated . Not by anyone but by a special authorised translator. Who will of course charge you much more .

Did you use a solicitor for your adoption ? If so he or she will usually do it for nothing , it only takes them 5 minutes . AFAIKthey have to be a notary public . I didn't know that " anyone in good standing " could notorise a legal document

www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

Thanks KristinaM It is in English but LA providing solicitor if needed, so we haven't used one as part of process. We're going to look into this though. Thanks

They might still do it for you. IIRC they just make a photocopy of the document and write something like

" I certfiy that this is a true and accurate copy "

And sign it. Takes a couple of minutes .

I phoned the court the other day regard the fact I didn't send a certified copy of our marriage cert with the AO application after seeing it discussed here. I was advised by the clerk at the CFC that is not required.... and our application is being processed.