The Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Regulations 1968

Manner of registration

68.—(1) In column 3 in form 23 the registrar, if unable to ascertain the exact age of either party, shall enter an age which accords with such information in that respect as he is able to obtain, or, failing any such information, the words “of full age” or the word “minor” , as the case may be;

(2) In column 4 in form 23 the registrar shall enter the condition of the parties to the marriage in the following manner—

(a) if a party has not previously been married, he shall enter the word “Bachelor” or “Spinster” , as the case may be, and if a party's previous marriage was terminated by the death of the previous wife or husband the word “Widower” or “Widow”, as the case may be;

(b) if a party's previous marriage was terminated by divorce, he shall enter the words “Previous marriage dissolved”;

(c) if the marriage is between two parties who have previously been through a form of marriage with each other (not being a marriage which is known to have been null and void) and neither of whom has since married a third person, then—

(i) if that marriage was terminated by divorce, he shall enter the words “Previously married at … on … Marriage dissolved on …” , inserting particulars of the place and date of marriage and the date of its dissolution; or

(ii) if the ceremony was performed for the avoidance of doubt as to the validity of a previous ceremony, he shall enter the words “Previously went through a form of marriage at … on …”, inserting particulars of the place and the date of the previous ceremony;

and no further entry shall be made in column 4.

(3) In column 6 in form 23, if either of the parties has removed into another district since the notice of marriage was given, the registrar shall enter the words “Late of … but now residing at …”, together with the full address of both residences;

(4) In column 7 in form 23, if either father is deceased, the registrar shall enter the word “deceased” after the surname.