Marriage and the UK

[Billposter]

Just heard some disturbing news, having got divorced last year from my wife ( legal marriage in Thailand ),

A friend of mine has just got married and has been told it is on record in the UK this is the first I have heard of this.

Could any one tell me if this correct?

The reason I am asking is if it is legal in the UK then will that mean I am still married to her the divorce was also legally done so will this mean the UK has a record of this as well.

Or do I need to inform them of this, hope this question makes sense?and someone could tell me who to get in touch with if this is the case.

Before I go searching the net thanks in advance

[scubamoff]

I believe if you have the divorce papers from thailand side and you have them translated and inform the right people over in the uk it should be ok did you have her live in england ?? i had mine over for a year and she worked so had NI number so was registered as married to me. i have a problem of getting my divorce papers i know im divorced in thailand because an official told me the date but i cant afford a flight to thailand just to pick the papers up....

[Mario2008]

Not sure what your question is.

Your marriage is legal in both countries, as is a divorce.

The marriage would be officially recorded in the UK only if you or your partner did that. (there is no requirement to do so, it only makes it easier to proof your marriage in the UK as it would also be on record there).

Same goes for the divorce. If divorced in either country (or a third country) the divorce is legal. But the other country won't know about it unless you or your ex-partner inform them of the divorce. it is not done automatically by the country where you got your divorce.

[Billposter]

Thanks for any replies but sorted now not registed in the uk as I never informed them.

So officially divorced

[7by7]

If a marriage is legal in the country where it took place, then it is legal in the UK; as is a divorce.

As Mario says, there is no need to inform the UK authorities as the marriage or divorce certificate with a certified English translation is sufficient for all UK purposes.

You cannot register a foreign marriage or divorce in the UK or at a British embassy; though you can deposit a copy of the certificate with the GRO in the UK if you wish to do so. There is no real advantage to this other than being able to obtain a copy whilst in the UK rather than having to get one from Thailand.

Just to add that if you divorced in the UK it must be through the courts for it to be legal in the UK.

It is possible to divorce at the Thai embassy in London, but whilst such a divorce would be recognised in Thailand, it would not be recognised in the UK as it was not done through the courts. So in the eyes of the UK law you would still be married.