Literal question
3.6. What is your / [the respondent's] legal marital status? For example are you/is he/she married, divorced, widowed or never married?
[] Never married
[] Married
[] Widowed
[] Divorced
[] Legally separated
[] Not stated
Interviewer instructions
Section 3 - Characteristics
Questions 3.1 - 3.10 which comprise Section 3 provide some basic characteristics about the individual and are to be answered for all members of the household.
5.42 Question 3.6 Marital Status
If the person is less than 16 years, do not ask the question but score never married. For persons 16 years old and over ask the question. Marital status refers to the legal status of the relationship.
[p.43]
Married - Score this for all persons formally married whether or not they are living with the partners to whom they are legally married. In those cases where East Indians have been married according to the Hindu Custom (that is, under the bamboo) or the Muslim rites, score married whether or not the marriage has been legally registered.
The remaining four categories, never married, widowed, divorced, legally separated are self-explanatory.