Is a marriage valid when the identification used to obtain the license contains false information?

Answer 1

The marriage would be invalid if the "false information" used violated a state law. For example, if the year of birth was falsified so the person would appear old enough to marry the marriage would not be legal. If the month and day of the person's birth were inaccurate it would not have an affect on the legality of the marriage. False names, SS#, and so forth are illegal when used to obtain legal documents (including a marriage license) of any type.

Answer 2

If the information is not significant, such as a mis-spelled name or other typo, it won't invalidate the license. If the information is wrong due to fraudulent answers to the questions when filling out the form, yes, it can be invalidated.

Answer 3

Yes, unless the purpose is to avoid having the intent to be listed on the document, or for the party to avoid considering himself or herself married to the other party, or to avoid being considered by others as lawfully married to the other party. That is because the official or cleric solemnizing the marriage does have the individual standing in front of him or her seeking to be bonded in marriage, irrespective of what the individual's name is. A court could theoretically be persuaded to simply reform the marriage license or certificate to reflect the correct name of the party.

Also, no, if the false name that appears on the marriage license resulted from a misunderstanding as to who the party is in the eyes of the official solemnizing the marriage, such as where the use of the false name is an attempt to induce the belief that the party is of age, or that the party is capable of understanding intent and consequence to be married and of marriage, as where the party is in reality not of age, and thus incapable by by infancy of lawfully entering into the marriage, or not mentally competent, for whatever reason. Such would also be grounds as fraud for annulment as against the party.

Also, if the official solemnizing the marriage believes, or the authority issuing the certificate believes, or if a court believes, that the use of the false name is evidence of the lack of an intent on the part of the party to enter into the marriage, then the marriage might not be valid, because the official solemnizing the marriage has to believe each party's intent to become married is both freely and capably given, and sincere.