When two people are linked as a couple, Pedigree Forge assumes they are married by default — this is because marriage was the most common situation for historical ancestors. Charts and reports treat the couple accordingly, even if a marriage fact has not yet been added.
The Status drop-down next to the spouse name offers several options:
| Status | Meaning | Chart symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Married | Default — assumed married | = |
| Never Married | The couple never married | x |
| Cohabiting | Living together without marriage | = |
| Former Partner | Were together but separated (never married) | x |
| Placeholder | Uncertain which spouse is the parent of certain children | — |
"Cohabiting" uses the polite = symbol on charts but produces different wording in narrative reports (e.g. "partner" rather than "husband" or "wife").
To record that a couple separated or divorced, add a divorce or separation fact using Facts > Add Couple Fact. The date, place, and source citations can then be entered like any other fact.
Marriage annulments are less common and are added from Facts > Add Couple Fact > Annulment.
The word "marriage" in Pedigree Forge is a generic term covering several relationship types. You can select a subtype on the marriage fact — for example, "civil partnership", "common law", "customary marriage", "marriage by repute", or "clandestine".
Customary marriages cover community-rite ceremonies (e.g. Romani or Traveller traditions, or historical religious-only marriages) where no civil or church record exists. Marriage by repute is a historical Scots-law concept where cohabitation and community recognition conferred full legal marriage status. Both subtypes produce appropriate wording in narrative reports and include glossary entries explaining the term to readers.
See Fact subtypes.