Ethical Question...

[Anonymous]

I'm planning to get married in July, we're planning on going abroad for it. One of the things needed is that she has her Divorce papers translated and legalized. Together with her "change of name" papers, when she reverted to her maiden name. However, she never actually used her ex-husband's surname on anything, except the divorce papers. She has her passport/birth-certificate/etc all in her madien name. The question is, given the costs of these translations and legalization, would the authorities in the other country ever know she was married? From the point of view of our current country, she has all of the paperwork, so on return, everything will be fine. Is it worth saving the few hundred dollars in costs by acting dumb?

[ColinDavies]

I'd advise her to do it legally, It is unlikely that she will get caught, But she could be convicted of Polygamy Polygyny, Fraud, making False declarations etc, which are serious offenses. So to me the risks outweigh the punishments. However did she legally change her name or not ? Does the application in the next country ask whether you have already been married or instead whether you are legally capable of getting married. For example, here in NZ you would not have to produce divorce cirtificates or passed marriage certificates. The authorities would do their own checking to see if it was legitimate, and not rely on paperwork that could be easily falsified. Regardz Colin J Davies

Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin

I'm guessing the concept of a 2 hour movie showing two guys eating a meal and talking struck them as 'foreign' Rob Manderson wrote:

[Paul Watson]

Anonymous wrote: Is it worth saving the few hundred dollars in costs by acting dumb? Rather ask yourself: Is it worth taking the chance of ruining your newly married life for a few hundred dollars? As Colin mentions the chances are slim you will get caught, but if you do then the consequences are serious and can take months to clear up. It will put strain on both of you and probably give her a criminal record. Also remember if you take the risk everytime you go an apply for something official (a new joint bank account, life insurance, social services etc.) you will have the little niggling worry at the back of your mind saying "Will this be the time they catch us out?" Start your married life honestly I would say. A couple hundred dollars is a small price to pay.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Macbeth muttered: I am in blood / Stepped in so far, that should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er DavidW wrote: You are totally mad. Nice.