What the Act covers
Section 5 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 lists the kinds of false instrument that it is an offence to hold with the intention that they be used to induce acceptance as genuine. The list includes certified copies of entries in registers of births, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths, and certificates relating to them. Penalties are in section 6; the most serious offences under the Act carry up to ten years on indictment. The detail is on UK law on fake documents.
Where forged certificates turn up
Marriage and birth certificates are used to prove family ties in immigration applications, benefit claims and name changes. A court in London jailed a gang for forging around two thousand customary marriage certificates that were used in EU Settlement Scheme applications, with sentences totalling thirteen years in all, according to press reports. Individuals have also been prosecuted for presenting false civil documents to government bodies.
Why a fake does not hold up
Every genuine certificate corresponds to an entry in a register. An authority that doubts a document can ask the register office that holds the entry. We found no public online tool that lets a member of the public check a certificate; if you need to confirm one, contact the register office that issued it.
If you need a genuine copy
A replacement is quick and cheap through the official route: see replacing a birth certificate for England and Wales, or Scottish certificates. For other documents sold in the same adverts, see fake passports.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fake marriage certificate a crime?
Holding or using a false certificate with the intention that it be accepted as genuine can be an offence under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. Penalties depend on the offence and the facts.
Can anyone check whether a marriage certificate is genuine?
We found no public online checking tool. Authorities contact the register office that holds the entry.
How do I get a genuine copy of a marriage certificate?
Order it from the register office through the official service for the part of the UK where the marriage took place.