Draft bill submitted to include mothers' names in marriage certificates for the first time ========================================================================================== ![Draft bill submitted to include mothers names in marriage certificates for the first time](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/8346120d3df71086ab2221cc9ab9a6ce.jpeg)Update 28/11/2017: Former cabinet minister Caroline Spelman, is to present the bill to allow for mothers' names on marriage certificates for second reading this week. The bill is co-sponsored by Frank Field, Maria Miller and Tim Farron.The Right Reverend Dr Alan Smith, a senior bishop of the Church of England, has put forward a draft bill which aims to make provision for recording of the name of the mother of each party on the marriage certificate. At present, only the names of the fathers are included on the documents. David Cameron pledged to make this change a few years ago as he said that the current system, which has remained unchanged since the 1800s, "[does not reflect modern Britain](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5005435/Marriage-certificates-FINALLY-include-mothers-names.html)". In 2015, the proposal was [rejected](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/12067271/Ministers-reject-simple-change-to-marriage-certificates-to-include-mothers-name-as-unfair-to-gay-couples.html) because it was seen to be unfair to same-sex parents. The idea was raised again last year when the new Registration of Marriage Bill was drafted by Conservative MP Edward Agar but the dissolution of Parliament for the General Election meant that this did not get debated. However the Right Reverend Dr Smith decided that the current system could not remain unchanged and is now pushing once more for mothers' names to be included. He explained to [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/21/church-england-bids-put-mothers-names-marriage-certificates/) the need for change and said that there has been a "clamour from many different groups pointing out that as the legislation currently stands it is very unfair" so "many people want to see it changed". Indeed Labour MP Christina Rees has [said](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/12067271/Ministers-reject-simple-change-to-marriage-certificates-to-include-mothers-name-as-unfair-to-gay-couples.html) that it "beggars belief" that in a "developed country in the 21stcentury" women are still being "accorded second-class status". Practical difficulties also prevented the new system being put in place as it would require the replacement of thousands of registrar books, [estimated](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5005435/Marriage-certificates-FINALLY-include-mothers-names.html) to cost approximately £13 million. The Right Reverend Dr Smith attempted to overcome this problem by proposing a system where marriages could be recorded electronically. He has suggested that couples getting married could sign a document which would then be submitted and recorded electronically on a digital registrar. However, marriage certificates are essentially copies of register entries so the current registrar books would still need to be altered to allow for this new information to be added to marriage certificates for existing marriages. Despite this, the Home Office have [said](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5005435/Marriage-certificates-FINALLY-include-mothers-names.html) that the new system would still result in savings of £30 million over a 10 year period and that it would cost approximately £1.3 million to set up. After years of campaigning it is disappointing to many that mothers are still not acknowledged in their own child's marriage: amending the system would be a hefty task, but it is clear that the voices for change will not go away. But whether the certificates are updated to include the mother or not, the marriage system evidently has a long way to go before it can cater to people of all different backgrounds and familial circumstances. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Family Law news -------------------- [Family court data links adverse family experiences with proven youth offending](https://vardags.com/family-law/family-justice-system-youth-offending "Family court data links adverse family experiences with proven youth offending") [Berlin same-sex couple become the first to adopt a child in Germany](https://vardags.com/family-law/berlin-sex-couple-become-first-adopt-child-germany "Berlin same-sex couple become the first to adopt a child in Germany") [Draft bill submitted to include mothers' names in marriage certificates for the first time](https://vardags.com/family-law/draft-bill-submitted-include-mothers-names-marriage-certificates-first-time "Draft bill submitted to include mothers names in marriage certificates for the first time") [Greece changes law so trans citizens can change gender with a court ruling](https://vardags.com/family-law/greece-change-gender-court-ruling "Greece changes law so trans citizens can change gender with a court ruling") [Secure accommodation orders are not a matter for the High Court, says judge](https://vardags.com/family-law/secure-accommodation-orders-are-not-a-matter-for-the-high-court "Secure accommodation orders are not a matter for the High Court, says judge") Articles by Lisa Robertson -------------------------- [Child relocation in CL v AL [2017]](https://vardags.com/family-law/child-relocation-in-cl-v-al-2017 "Child relocation in CL v AL 2017") [National Trust to inherit millions from businessman with dementia despite his bitter feelings towards the charity](https://vardags.com/family-law/national-trust-inheritance-battle "National Trust to inherit millions from businessman with dementia despite his bitter feelings towards the charity") [Draft bill submitted to include mothers' names in marriage certificates for the first time](https://vardags.com/family-law/draft-bill-submitted-include-mothers-names-marriage-certificates-first-time "Draft bill submitted to include mothers names in marriage certificates for the first time") [Property tycoon Andy Ruhan pleads poverty and wife denies hiring hitman in bitter divorce battle](https://vardags.com/family-law/andy-ruhan-bitter-divorce-battle "Property tycoon Andy Ruhan pleads poverty and wife denies hiring hitman in bitter divorce battle") [Princess of Luxembourg chooses UK courts for her divorce](https://vardags.com/family-law/princess-luxembourg-chooses-london-uk-courts-divorce "Princess of Luxembourg chooses UK courts for her divorce")