it was a stupid plot line for the episode by marlowe and has other repercussions about beckett that destroys her ethically.
think about it she was PRE-LAW- she was either blitzed out of her mind or the1 hrs of paperwork to get married would have meant something.
then there is the other ramifications of this to her character(shit that should have occurred to people writing the damn episode)
1- she has NEVER had a background check? Hello if the clerk can just find it in 5 SECONDS, the police, the FBI never found it?
2- if she was married, then she has been a serial adulterer for her adult LIFE..(19-34)
Will, Josh, Demming, Brad(one date) Castle- any other people she dated from ages 19-~29 (figure this is around when will came into the picture- they dated for 6 months)
5 lines of dialogue in the scene with Rick's Lawyer one of which is a changed line that beckett says = not married, her reputation and ethics intact AND she still would have to get a Damn Divorce....
@the lawyer's she says she remembers going to vegas- change that to say, i never went to vegas, how could i have gotten married there?
new line lawyer: it says here that you got married january 13th 1999 (a date which is would be essentially IMPOSSIBLE to have gotten married there- 4 days AFTER her mothers murder) or it could be the day before or after or etc, just that "week"
Beckett- that is impossible i was in NY then (if just before mom's murder) or that is impossible my Mom was killed on january 9th, i was in NY! she looks relieved at rick "someone used my Identity, i've never been Married?!"
lawyer: I See, --a pause as he thinks, be that as it may, it says here that you married rogan on (date) it is your name there, so unless you want to spend the next 6-12 months it will take to annul that marriage, the easiest way to be able to marry rick in 3 days is to get Rogan to sign this no fault divorce and get it filed asap.
beckett- rolling eyes & snatching paperwork, fine, i'll go get a divorce.
that "dialogue" would have appeased all of the fans that hated that storyline (me included, i despised it as is). she still would have had the rogan adventure and she STILL would have to get a divorce, without actually ever being married to the guy.
well at least we know something will change this Fall episode wise, New Guy has to put his "take" on the relationship and he has done some good ones,
personally i'd like to see a reversion a bit back to season's 2-3 style of episode, just with a bit more "love" between rick and kate, playful flirty banter at the precinct, when they do there "i know who did it" style of foreplay, have one or the other, lean in and whisper, wait til i get you home tonite my love...
a good "home" scene or two per episode with them being a loving couple, kissing, being in bed "naked" etc. stuff like that.