If Home Affairs still shows you as married after a divorce, or shows a widow or widower as married after a spouse has died, the record can be updated, but the process is not well documented. This page sets out what the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has said, and what we could not confirm.
In Summary
- After a divorce: take your divorce order to a DHA office to have the status amended. GroundUp reported in 2019 that this was supposed to take about three months.
- After a spouse’s death: DHA told Parliament in 2022 that a circular tells front offices to update marital status through a dedicated email address.
- Delays have no deadline you can enforce other than a court order, according to GroundUp.
- We could not confirm any named DHA form or the current processing time.
After a Divorce
Take your divorce order to a DHA office and ask for your marital status to be updated on the National Population Register. GroundUp’s explainer said the amendment is supposed to take about three months, and that the only way to compel DHA to act on a delay is a court order. That explainer is from 2019, so treat the timing as a guide. To see what your record currently says, use our guide to checking your marital status.
After a Spouse Has Died
DHA told Parliament in December 2022 that a circular instructs front offices to update marital status after a death through a dedicated email address. For the case where a deceased person was recorded as never married, the reply named an affidavit from a family member, the deceased’s ID, the informant’s ID and the death certificate, after which DHA investigates before updating. That reply covers a wrongly recorded status, so it may not cover every widow or widower case.
Daily Maverick reported in 2022 that widowed people were still showing as married, with no official fix described, so expect to follow up.
If the Master of the High Court Rejects Your Records
Some people report that the Master of the High Court rejects documents that still show them as married. We found no official DHA guidance that links the two offices, so ask the Master’s office what it needs and bring the updated DHA record once it is corrected.
If Nothing Changes
Keep the reference number and the date you submitted the documents. Follow up in writing and use our complaint letter generator. The marital status check by message has been suspended since 2021, according to Daily Maverick, so check in person or use the guide above.
What We Could Not Confirm
- A named DHA form for divorce or death updates.
- The current processing time.
- Any official link between DHA and the Master of the High Court.
What You Cannot Do
- You cannot rely on a divorce order alone to update other institutions. Update the DHA record first.
- You cannot assume the update happens automatically after a court issues a divorce order or a death is registered.
- You cannot enforce the three month guide without a court order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I update my marital status at Home Affairs after a divorce?
Take your divorce order to a DHA office and ask for the status to be amended. GroundUp reported in 2019 that this should take about three months.
Why does Home Affairs still show me as married after my divorce?
The record is not always updated automatically. Take the divorce order to a DHA office and ask for the amendment, and keep proof of submission.
How do I change my marital status after my spouse has died?
DHA told Parliament that a circular tells front offices to update marital status after a death through a dedicated email address. Take the death certificate and your ID to the office.
What if my spouse’s death certificate says married and I want to remarry?
Get the status corrected first. We found no official DHA guidance on this, so ask the office and keep every reference number.
How long does it take to update marital status?
GroundUp reported about three months in 2019. We could not confirm a current official processing time.
Can I force Home Affairs to update my marital status?
GroundUp reported that a court order is the only way to compel DHA when the update is delayed.
Can I check my marital status by message?
The message based marital status check was suspended in 2021, according to Daily Maverick. Check in person or see our marital status guide.
What if the Master of the High Court rejects my documents?
Ask the Master’s office what it needs and bring your updated DHA record once corrected. We found no official DHA guidance linking the two.
What documents do I need to update marital status after a death?
DHA named an affidavit from a family member, the deceased’s ID, the informant’s ID and the death certificate for the case of a wrongly recorded status. Confirm the list with your office.