To think MN will steam at its collective ears about this?

[Andrewofgg]

There’s a campaign afoot to put mothers’ as well as fathers’ names on marriage certificates.

Our all-wise government is now allowing civil partners to convert their CPs into marriages. Well and good and for an opening spell there will be an introductory offer: no fee. After that it will be £45, still good value.

But . . . the draft regulations have been published and they provide that the parties must give their fathers’, but not their mothers’ names. If father is dead or divorced and mother remarried they can give step-father’s name instead (gee, thanks) but not the other way round.

WTAF? I can see why there might be problems with changing the rules on marriage, although a clause in the next Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill could solve them, but this is a new procedure, ffs, I can see no reason why the names of both parents should not be recorded. Which Ministerial head is up which Ministerial arse?

What.the.fuck.

Have they stated a reason for this?

Not that I have seen.

In Scotland both your parents names and occupations are on the forms... My brother just got married in England and my mum got the hump that she isn't mentioned on it

Sheesh- there is a real mental mind block about giving women equal status isnt there? I mean it really wouldnt affect anyone negatively at all to allow mothers' names and would be so very simple to add an extra box but yet it still has to be fought for. Why?

Only in England and Wales and DC has said it will he changed...
www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/18/mothers-names-marriage-registers-david-cameron

What a missed opportunity.
How many signatures are needed on a petition to get things discussed in the commons - I think politicians need to be put on the spot to discuss this

If you think about it, the silly thing is you're absolutely positive who your Mother is (she gave birth to you after all), but it's really only supposition who your Father is.

No casting any aspersions on any Mothers out there, by the way.

does this mean instead of my wank stain of a bio dad i can put my stepdad on the forms instead?

if i ring my sister this will make her year!

oh and yeah mums should be on

No, Szeli, only if she is converting her c.p. into a same-sex marriage.

arse

It's a very outdated tradition in which fathers signed ownership of their daughter to her husband.

I wish parents was not mentioned on a marriage or c.p. Certificate.

after this i googled. stepfathers can go on a new marriage certificate. my sister did a happy dance down the phone

"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"

In old language a man actively marries, and a woman is passively married. It is precisely transactional.

There are several petitions already.

I had no idea and English marriage certificate didn't have mothers on!

Our Mums are on ours (Scottish)

Another reason not to get married

Szeli That's wonderful. I had no idea that step-fathers can be included. If it was my post that prompted you to look, then I can feel that I've achieved something today !

The wider issue - mothers and indeed stepmothers - remains.

FWIW where a step-parent is shown I think there should still be information about the bio parent for the sake of future family historians.

In France both parents are mentioned.

As in most continental countries. It's only stubborn old England (which for these purposes includes Wales) and the two Irish jurisdictions which have inherited her laws (funny that, we say her laws, don't we?) where mothers don't have a place. I suppose we should be thankful that they appear on birth certificates . . .

My mother is on my marriage certificate - I'm in NI

Sorry she's not, just double checked. I know there's something else shes on that's not usual but anyway it's not my marriage cert

I stand corrected again wigglesrock. And pleased I was wrong. Anyone know whether certificates in the Republic show both and when they started if they do?

Oops no, you were right

Cross-posted. Ah well. NI should sort itself out too!