Literal question
What is your marital status now: are you widowed, divorced, separated or no longer in a visiting relationship?
Interviewer instructions
Circle the code corresponding to the response given. For a woman who is not currently married and not currently living with someone but who was formerly in a union, record her current marital status at the time of the interview. Since she was in a union at one time, but is not on the day you are interviewing her, she will be either widowed, divorced or separated.
You should use 'widowed' (a) for women who were married and their husband died, and (b) for women who were in an informal union and their partner died. 'Divorced' should be used for women who were formally married and whose marriage formally ended. 'Separated' should be used (a) for women who were married, but are no longer continuing the marriage with their husband, and (b) for women who were in an informal union and are no longer continuing the union with their partner.