Is it possible H was married/ had family before me?

[womaninatightspot]

Already separating but he was abusive (verbal gaslighting etc.). Suspect having proof he's a liar would be good for my mental health. Found a birth certificate among his papers from before we were married. His name listed as father and informant (so would have to be married to mother right?) Same surname as the mother.

It is a common name and he's from a large family who I've never met so can't ask them (I know major red flag territory.) Can I use this to search for a marriage certificate and confirm the date of birth and know for sure. We are married and declared no previous marriages when filling out wedding licence application. Do they double check these things?

Would rather him not know I know if that makes sense. I don't want to confront him.

Nothing helpful to add, but sincerely hoping you can find a way to get to the truth

This must be excruciating for you :(

I am only commenting to see what happens here.

I wonder why he has the birth certificate, rather than the child or its mother?

@OlennasWimple considering he was also an informant, I have a bad feeling about it. That's why i said, OP might be better looking for death certs and adoption papers

You do have to produce your decree nisi when arranging/booking a wedding at the regisrty office, (or a death certificate if you are a widow(er))
Has the OP checked for a marriage certificate in the names of the persons on the birth certificate?

OP, it's possible there is something utterly tragic in his past regarding a previous wife and child, which is maybe why he's cut his family out of his life and manufactured a story about an argument. You never know. It could all be too painful and he's chosen to forget it all and move on.

Back. No idea why he has the certificate but it's a copy of the full length and a copy of the abbreviated certificate both dated at the same time. He would of been 9. In the same envelope is a card from the child to his family for easter. This would of been years before we met. Theres also a small pink certificate for the birth of a child five years older same surname but doesn't give parents names(an old fashioned abbreviated birth certificate perhaps?)

I'd go down the 192.com route.

Do you mean he would have been 19 or 29?

Does his father/uncle have the same forenames?

Nearlythere - even if he had lost his wife and child in the most tragic way possible, he still (legally and morally) needed to declare his previous marriage before marrying the OP. However painful that might have been for him

192.com won't give information on if people are married or not.

OP are the two births (the long one and the pink one) from the same area? If so that should be your start point for a marriage.

My friend's stepfather was given a six month prison sentence for Bigamy. First offence, pled guilty asap. Think he was out after 3 or 4 months. It isn't just a slap on the wrist and a fine sort of offence. You really need to know where you stand, it also affects whether he is entitled to up to 50% of your home and assets (and you his). It doesn't affect child maintenance, but it may if he's paying maintenance for another child.

Don't the birth certificates have the children's full names on? Have to tried googling/Facebook to try to track down their mother? I'm not suggesting contact the child, but finding their mother through Facebook or the school might be possible.

If you remember the name of the old friend you can still look for them.

I think OP is saying that the mystery child would have been 9 when she married her STBXH.

OP - I can't think of an innocent reason why he would have a child's birth cert. other than because he is the father. It's possible to get more than one copy of documents, so he could have a copy and the mother have a copy.

Unless they happened to have the same last name (unlikely but theoretically possible) he probably was married to her.

If he has never been divorced OP it will affect your pension, any benefits you have claimed may be impacted, tax credits etc... my advice would be to find a bl**dy good solicitor, hand over whatever information you have already and let them deal with it. If you have that suspicion you can't conceal it unfortunately however much you may want to protect DC. There is also the impact that this may have on DC and former (or not so former) marriage.

It's a common surname and first names so not really facebookable (tried).

Both certificates are for the same district.

Joined ancestry found records for both DC gives limited info but mothers maiden for child1 matches child 2.

192.com would give previous addresses and names of those living at the same address.

Census or electoral roll for the address or nearby?

No sign of death certificates for either child.

Is the fathers place of birth/occupation correct to be your DH?

I think you should apply to the registry office for a copy of any marriage certificates in his name and see what they tell you back?

Any sign of a marriage ? Try the GRO too.

Are you searching for marriage certs? Her maiden name and his surname - try the district where the births were registered as a starting point.

Found a marriage thing on Ancestry 2 years before first child.