A HARROGATE couple who married in hospital without a licence, have had their marriage validated by new legislation.
Jean Elizabeth Craven and Anthony Sheldon Craven married on January 12, 2002, in Harrogate District Hospital.
Because of the imminent death of Mr Craven, there was not time to get a special licence and the marriage was technically not valid.
But a new piece of legislation, introduced on May 21, has meant their marriage will now be registered.
Family law specialist Mark Burns, of McCormicks Solicitors, of Harrogate and Leeds, hailed the legislation as a victory for common sense.
He said: "This was a very sad case where a couple wished to be married, but there simply wasn't time to get a special licence, meaning that technically the marriage was not valid.
"These circumstances are very unusual, but this is a clear case where common sense and compassion have triumphed over bureaucracy."
Updated: 08:57 Tuesday, May 27, 2003
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