Célibataire

[idun]

If célibataire means that someone is not married/ unmarried etc. Are there any cirumstances where french officialdom should use the célibataire for someone who is married?

I say, should, because we have some documents that they will not change from célibataire to married. Which has left me wondering if under some circumstances, célibataire is a correct description of a married person.

I am finding this rather confusing.

[NormanH]

In my experience it always means unmarried. They would never go back to it once married

I had to use divorcé or séparé on documents once my marriage was over.

The only time I have seen it used in other circumstances is for example mère-célibataire.

This page seems to bear that out, but is of course not definitive

http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/c%C3%A9libataire

[ericd]

I would tend to agree with Norman.....have thought hard and long about it but cannot come up with another explanation.

[idun]

Thanks. That is how we see it too. And yet we have paperwork that states célibataire and no way at all to show marié. To say we are peeved about it, is a bit of an understatement. Isn't as if they haven't had traduction-assermentee of the marriage certificate, they have.

[ericd]

Make a "reclamation" !!

[idun]

Yes, I think that that may be a good idea.

[EuroTrash]

deleted - just read your second post!