Section 7: Marital Status - For all persons fourteen (14) years and over
26. Marital status
What is (N's) [the respondent's] legal marital status?
[] 01 Never married (NM)
[] 02 Married (M)
[] 03 Widowed (W)
[] 04 Legally separated (LS)
[] 05 Divorced (D)
[] 09 Not stated (NS)
Section 7 - Marital status
Marital status is the personal legal status of each individual enumerated in relation to the marriage laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The question on marital status is addressed to all persons fourteen (14) years old and over.
The following categories are identified:
(i) Never married - A person who has never been married, either formally (that is in accordance with the marriage laws of the country) or through customary marriage ceremonies which are prescribed under Hindu or Muslim rites.
[p.23]
(ii) Married - Applied to persons who have gone through a legal marriage ceremony. Also included in this category are persons married according to Hindu or Muslim rites, whether or not such marriages have been legally registered.
A person, living apart from, though not legally separated from his/her married partner is to be recorded as married.
(iii) Widowed - This category applies to all persons, married legally or through customary Hindu or Muslim rites, whose partners have died and who have not remarried.
(iv) Legally separated - A person who is married but not living with his/her spouse and has obtained a separation by means of legal proceedings.
(v) Divorced - A person, having formally dissolved his/her marriage through legal proceedings, and has not remarried.