Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
When did they stop putting 'bachelor' and 'spinster' on UK marriage certificates?
I've just cot a copy of my sisters marriage certificate from last week (Nov 2008) and the registrar has put both her and her new husbands conditions down as 'single' rather than the traditional 'bachelor' and 'spinster' that I've seen on every other certficate I own. I'm guessing this is a fairly recent thing, but does anyone know how recent, or if the couple get an choice in the matter, or have the terms 'bachelor' and 'spinster' gone for good? Just curious.
5 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavourite answer
On September 5, 2005, the Registrar General in England and Wales officially abolished the traditional terms of "bachelor" and "spinster" and substituted the more politically correct "single" to coincide with the reform that introduced civil partnerships, explaining, "The word single will be used to mean a couple who has never been through a marriage or civil partnership."
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Well, when I was married in 1999 it was still bachelor and spinster - I thought it looked antiquated then, so "single" is better I think.
- BenthebusLv 61 decade ago
It might be just that registrars way of doing things, I remember when I got married 24 years ago the vicar would not let my wife have obey in the vows, he said it was not good to start marriage off with a lie.