Thread: Marriage Register

I suppose this question has been raised a few times but I'm still in the dark.
I'm married to a Thai and I'd like to know is there any neccesity to have the marriage registered in the UK. If I didn't register it at the Embassy will my wife still be able to receive the State Pension if I pop me clogs ? Thanks

Excellent question.

I await replies.
I have wanted to know the answer to this for a long time.

If you are getting a State Pension you have to fill in a form from the pension people in the UK to prove that you are married. Eventually they will start giving you a married mans allowance. Then when you 'Pop your clogs' they have to be told that you are a gonna. But she will still get her part of the Pension for 12 months. Then Zilch. Until she is 60. When it will start up again, and continue for the rest of her life! Good old England eh?
The paperwork involved is likely to be a problem for her, of course.

Incidentally, they will only pay into a UK bank account. Nationwide is best as they charge nothing for cash taken from ATMs.

Hope you don't pop your clogs for a while.......

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Incidentally, they will only pay into a UK bank account

That presents another problem.
No UK bank will open an account for my wife unless she is physically in the UK. I have tried many banks.

Originally Posted by Luckydog

If you are getting a State Pension you have to fill in a form from the pension people in the UK to prove that you are married. Eventually they will start giving you a married mans allowance. Then when you 'Pop your clogs' they have to be told that you are a gonna. But she will still get her part of the Pension for 12 months. Then Zilch. Until she is 60. When it will start up again, and continue for the rest of her life! Good old England eh?
The paperwork involved is likely to be a problem for her, of course.

Incidentally, they will only pay into a UK bank account. Nationwide is best as they charge nothing for cash taken from ATMs.

Hope you don't pop your clogs for a while.......

Thank you for your advice but you still don't mention if it's adviseable to register my marriage at the British Embassy ?

Yes.I imagine you must do that so that they can confirm to the Pension Service in the uk the fact that you are legaly married to a Thai.

Google UK State Pension Service and take it from there.

Won't your Bank include your wife into your account by the way......

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Yes.I imagine you must do that so that they can confirm to the Pension Service in the uk the fact that you are legaly married to a Thai.

Google UK State Pension Service and take it from there.

Won't your Bank include your wife into your account by the way......

I sent my private pension, my Thai marriage certificate with a translation and they accepted it. No confirmation from Embassy needed and my private pension pays more than the state one.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Incidentally, they will only pay into a UK bank account

That presents another problem.
No UK bank will open an account for my wife unless she is physically in the UK. I have tried many banks.

Lloyds TSB Gurnsey will

Originally Posted by William

Lloyds TSB Gurnsey will

For a fee...

yep. GBP 75 per annum

Originally Posted by William

yep. GBP 75 per annum

So you don't need to be resident in the UK, and you only pay 75 quid a year (no other fee?)?

^ you will also need to pay a fee if you withdraw cash from an ATM here. Last time I used the card there was no fee on buying goods or services, only cash withdrawals.

Aside from that, it's just the GBP75 per annum fee, which I think a little high, but I guess that's life these days.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Incidentally, they will only pay into a UK bank account

That presents another problem.
No UK bank will open an account for my wife unless she is physically in the UK. I have tried many banks.

What no british banks in thailand ?
i use ANZ and NAB in aust and i have opened a Nab in thailand and can transfer on line from aust to nab thai and use the dip dip (atm)

Originally Posted by corvettelover

What no british banks in thailand ?

HSBC is kind of a UK bank, but the HSBC in Thailand is dreadful.

^strangely, HSBC UK wouldn't agree to open an account with me even if I had an HSBC account in BKK. Strange bank that one.

Originally Posted by William

^strangely, HSBC UK wouldn't agree to open an account with me even if I had an HSBC account in BKK. Strange bank that one.

I had the same in reverse.

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Yes.I imagine you must do that so that they can confirm to the Pension Service in the uk the fact that you are legaly married to a Thai.

Google UK State Pension Service and take it from there.

Won't your Bank include your wife into your account by the way......

yes but dont bank accounts get closed when u die??

^not as such. Initially they get frozen while you work through the probate process. This can cause a small problem if you have a joint account. In the case of a joint account, the deceased person's name will eventually be removed. In a sole account the account will be closed and money sent to an account as direct by will.

My bank in the USA will not add my Thai wife' name to my account unless she can come to the states and do it herself as a legal resident, they will not add a foreigner.

^yes, banks in the US don't like opening accounts if you don't have a social number, for some reason. I think it may have something to do with the draconian money laundering laws that were passed following 9/11

Originally Posted by corvettelover

What no british banks in thailand ?

Yes.
There is also Standard Charter Bank.
They will give an account here but not an account in UK.

Mine is an old account that I have had for years, but they will not add a foreigners name to it.

Originally Posted by William

^yes, banks in the US don't like opening accounts if you don't have a social number, for some reason. I think it may have something to do with the draconian money laundering laws that were passed following 9/11

That's for Tax purposes, The IRS wants to make sure everyone is accounted for when it comes to money matters.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Originally Posted by corvettelover

What no british banks in thailand ?

Yes.
There is also Standard Charter Bank.
They will give an account here but not an account in UK.

Bangkok Bank has a branch in London can they open one at that branch?? Or maybe a joint account?

Originally Posted by minime

Bangkok Bank has a branch in London can they open one at that branch??

Nope, I tried that route and was told by BBL in Thailand that it was not possible to open an account in the UK without a visit.
I tried emailing the manager in London three times but never got a reply.