{
  "id": 1262290,
  "title": "Married women share problems renewing Alberta driver’s licences",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/married-women-share-problems-renewing-alberta-drivers-licences",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T12:00:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12019225/married-women-problems-alberta-drivers-licences/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Married women in Alberta are facing issues while renewing their driver's licences, according to recent reports. On August 7, Christine Orme tried to renew her licence but was told she needed to present her original marriage certificate, which she no longer has. Her expired passport also proved insufficient, leading her to apply for a replacement marriage certificate at a cost of $45, a process that could take 45 days. Orme, who drives for work and whose licence expires on her birthday, expressed frustration over the expense and inconvenience.\n\nSimilarly, Wendy Oszust, another married woman, encountered the same predicament. Her passport has expired, and she is uncertain about the whereabouts of her marriage certificate, dating back over 40 years of marriage. Oszust had to apply for a marriage license through the registry office and pay for that, with the expectation of receiving it in the mail.\n\nBoth Orme and Oszust emphasized the financial burden and inconveniences associated with acquiring the required documents. The Alberta government has acknowledged the issue, stating they are urging Albertans to be patient with registry agents and ensure they have the correct documents when renewing their licences. They are sending reminders 60 and 30 days prior to the expiration of cards, informing individuals about the necessary documents and providing time to locate them if needed. However, drivers argue that this solution does not alleviate the financial strain and inconvenience caused by the need for new documents.",
  "summary": "Married women like Christine Orme say they're having problems when their documents don't match, because some have their maiden name and others have their married name.",
  "key_points": [
    "Married women in Alberta struggle to renew licences without original marriage certificates.",
    "Expired passports and lost documents cause financial burden and inconvenience.",
    "Alberta government urges patience and provides reminders for licence renewals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}