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OK, I'll try and keep answers to questions on #marriageregistration in this thread, and pray that both my spelling and numbering are better than yesterday! I'm sure @Faculty_Office will correct me if I'm wrong on anything...
@Faculty_Office 1.) Does this mean that quarterly returns are a thing of the past? (@petercallway). Well yes that's the idea. BUT - I think that relies on the new online system for creating marriage documents being up and running. It now seems that this will follow at a later date.
@Faculty_Office @petercallway Once it's live, the GRO would know when a marriage document is issued, and then follow up only when it's not completed and lodged with them (or they receive a completed one which was never issued!).
@Faculty_Office @petercallway But in the interim, while it's type and print or fill in by hand, they will need some method of reconciliation, I presume. Which likely means quarterly returns continuing for a bit (that's only a guess, mind).
@Faculty_Office @petercallway 2.) From the Deputy Registrar of St Albans: "What if they could do with proving their status on their honeymoon (say, if visiting a hotel that only allocates double rooms to married couples)?" No idea. Somebody from Scotland (where this system already operates) might know!
@Faculty_Office @petercallway "What happens if the 1 piece of paper issued to the couple gets lost, damaged, eaten by the dog, before they are able to take it to the Registrar?" (@venchrisallsopp). Likely that clergy will be authorised to issue a duplicate in certain circumstances, I think. But good point...
@Faculty_Office @petercallway @venchrisallsopp 4. "As such we will not require a civil registrar present at weddings (as RC practice), nor will the couple need separate religious and secular ceremonies (as Muslim practice, for example)." @edwardrhbarlow Entirely correct. No changes in this regard at all.
@Faculty_Office @petercallway @venchrisallsopp @edwardrhbarlow 5. "Does this mean that we'll no longer need to send marriage returns to the registry as it will be the couple's responsibility to pass that info on?" That's the idea yes, but see my answer to 1 above about this maybe not working in the initial period.
@Faculty_Office @petercallway @venchrisallsopp @edwardrhbarlow 6. "So upshot is less paperwork for us clergy and only ones losing out are couples who go on honeymoon straight after the wedding and who want their certificate for a plane upgrade and free cocktail?" New means of enabling this will need to be found, yes.
@Faculty_Office @petercallway @venchrisallsopp @edwardrhbarlow 7. REGISTERS - All existing marriage registers will be closed and not used under the new system. Church keeps one, register office gets one. Church one will eventually end up in Diocesan Archive.
@Faculty_Office @petercallway @venchrisallsopp @edwardrhbarlow 8. SHINY NEW REGISTERS - Both CofE and CinW think churches having register of marriage services is good and useful and thus Regulations will mandate churches to have "Weddings Registers". But these are for internal church use only (like Baptism register).
@Faculty_Office @petercallway @venchrisallsopp @edwardrhbarlow I assume this will be only one copy. It will be of no civil law effect - clergy will not issue certified copies (certificates) of it, and couples will not be allowed to use it as proof they are married. Think of it like a service register.
9. "does this mean that couples who marry at civil venues will have the same annoying trip to the Registry Office?" Depends - A civil Registrar will be required to return the completed form on behalf of the couple, as I understand it. But...
...there are others who are not Registrars, known as Authorised Persons, who take non-church weddings. It will be the same for them as for clergy - give the form to the couple.
