Hoping that somebody who is clued up on family law can help us make sense of this puzzle. I've given all the known facts, sorry if it's a bit complicated. All parties are now deceased.
Norah marries Richard in 1919. She has children with him up to 1930.
She then marries Edward in 1932 without divorcing, thereby committing bigamy. Norah used her maiden name for this marriage. It took place in a Register Office at the opposite end of the country to her first marriage.
In 1939, Edward goes on to marry Edith and highly likely has not divorced Norah. As his marriage to Norah was bigamous in the first place (he being the innocent party at that time), has he committed bigamy this time or not? The last child born to Edward and Norah was as recent as 1935.
In 1956 Norah marries again to Richard, her first husband, whom she had not divorced in the first place when she married Edward in 1939. She marries Richard using his surname with no mention anywhere on the certificate of her own maiden surname or Edward's. Has she committed bigamy this time or not? as technically the couple were never unmarried.
The 1956 ceremony was in a Register Office and a certificate issued so it was not simply a blessing or renewal of vows. Quite why she went to the bother of marrying again when she could have simply picked up where she left off is a mystery. I wouldn't have thought that vow renewals were in vogue way back then but I'm interested to know.
Norah marries Richard in 1919. She has children with him up to 1930.
She then marries Edward in 1932 without divorcing, thereby committing bigamy. Norah used her maiden name for this marriage. It took place in a Register Office at the opposite end of the country to her first marriage.
In 1939, Edward goes on to marry Edith and highly likely has not divorced Norah. As his marriage to Norah was bigamous in the first place (he being the innocent party at that time), has he committed bigamy this time or not? The last child born to Edward and Norah was as recent as 1935.
In 1956 Norah marries again to Richard, her first husband, whom she had not divorced in the first place when she married Edward in 1939. She marries Richard using his surname with no mention anywhere on the certificate of her own maiden surname or Edward's. Has she committed bigamy this time or not? as technically the couple were never unmarried.
The 1956 ceremony was in a Register Office and a certificate issued so it was not simply a blessing or renewal of vows. Quite why she went to the bother of marrying again when she could have simply picked up where she left off is a mystery. I wouldn't have thought that vow renewals were in vogue way back then but I'm interested to know.
Comment