Tell me this isn't true (GULP!)

**mamamia** · 02-11-2010, 05:19 AM

When Hubby and I got married, we did so it in a church. And so with that, besides, having a NYC marriage license, we have a "church" marriage certificate as well. (2 separate papers) Well all's well on the license. However, the certificate has our last named spelled wrong. They ended it on A instead of O.

Someone just told me that with the mis-spelling we in the eyes of the law, not legally married.

My own thought on this, is that the NYC document would take precedence over a church document, and would not change our marriage status legally, no?

Sooo, my question, that is at least to anyone who might happen to know, are we in fact not legally married? This of course seems ridiculous, but I have heard of things like this being true.

I recently used my certificate to get a state ID, and they had to go by the mis-spelling on it. So my ID does not have my real name on it. That's what got me thinking about the legality of it all. {{{shudders}}]

**Lora88** · 02-11-2010, 06:07 AM

not true your are legally married although I bet there are many people who wish they could get out of it that easily lol. My mother wa born in upstate NY the city clerk spoke mostly polish My grandma only italian my moms name is Serifina Depalo the clerk wrote Sophie Deplotz on her birth certificate its still all legal however

**Mummy2** · 02-11-2010, 07:58 AM

I am going to assume you have been married a long time..... You will not get rid of DH that quickly! Its like assuming a different spelling of a name, once you have used it for many years and it has been absorbed into your financial documents its binding.

Your state ID will need to be corrected, take the other multiple state and Gov. issued IDs with the correct spelling next time you go.

**monkeywrangler71** · 02-11-2010, 08:02 AM

Imagine how much liquid paper they could sell if it were that easy to become unmarried

**Greebo** · 02-11-2010, 08:04 AM

Typographical errors do not invalidate legal documents, and a Church certificate isn't a legal document anyway.

**WV_mom_of2** · 02-11-2010, 09:35 AM

I've been married a long time so I might not remember this right but don't they file your marriage certificate at the courthouse after you get married? That's legal proof that you are married. A church certificate just shows you got married there, the date, and who married you but it's not a legal document.

**danni** · 02-11-2010, 09:42 AM

When my ex and I split up he thought we hadn't been legally married. He had been using his step fathers last name for about 5 years but had never legally changed it but he signed the marriage certificate with it. So we talked to a lawyer and they said that it would still be a legal marriage. So if we were still married even though he had used a whole other name then I don't think a misspelling is going to make much of a difference.

**druthb00** · 02-11-2010, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

Typographical errors do not invalidate legal documents, and a Church certificate isn't a legal document anyway.

When I moved to FL just a couple of months ago, I went in to get my FL drivers license and had to present a government issued birth certificate. I heard an employee flat out tell a 90+ year old woman that her hospital birth certificate was a "souvenir." I won't go there, but let's just say that did not sit well with her LOL. Anyway, what Greebo said is entirely true. I'm a bit surprised whoever waited on you was able to go ahead and use your church certificate, because theoretically it would have the same status as a hospital birth certificate....with no legal standing whatsoever.

**WV_mom_of2** · 02-11-2010, 10:45 AM

I'm surprised they let her use the church certificate as well. Both of my kids had to get state ID issued by the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Dd wanted one to use when she writes checks and ds had to have one to hunt. They had to take their state issued birth certificates, social security cards and then a piece of our mail with our physical address on it.

**frugalwarrior2** · 02-11-2010, 12:03 PM

When we were married we got a copy not the certificate w/ the seal. I had a rip rouring time telling my mom and dad we were living in sin. You are married and definately common law married too.

**mamamia** · 02-11-2010, 12:58 PM

W_VA_momof2 Wrote>>>
I'm surprised they let her use the church certificate as well. Both of my kids had to get state ID issued by the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Dd wanted one to use when she writes checks and ds had to have one to hunt. They had to take their state issued birth certificates, social security cards and then a piece of our mail with our physical address on it.
__________________
Sherri

Well, they sure did let me use it. Not only that, but I also had to use my baptismal certificate as proof of who I was, because my birth certificate merely states ~GIRL~ where my 1st name goes (there were family arguments going on over my name). Both these church certificates are sealed with that thing that leaves an imprint, and are also signed by witnesses making them both legal NYC documents.

Guess I should clarify that there was no wishful thinking going on, afterall he does do dishes....lol! Thanks for the replies though. I am relieved about it

Theresa

**mauimagic** · 02-11-2010, 01:26 PM

Our marriage certificate has our name misspelled - never thought too much about it since averywhere else it's correct. We are into our 28th year and going strong!!