About 50 social workers will join the local marriage registration affairs office, starting next month, to provide free guidance and consultation for marriage and divorce applicants.

　　Different from the marriage management officials, these professionals will have related qualifications and work experience to provide service according to the demands of applicants and help them to understand new marriage regulations.

　　They explain procedures of marriage and divorce registration, and give legal counseling in cases of divorce.

　　"What they will provide is not imperatives, but good service," said Zhou Jixiang, director of the Marriage Management Division of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

　　Many people began to fear that they might marry a bigamist or suffer financial losses under the simplified marriage registration procedures that went into effect in October.

　　Couples used to be required to obtain certificates from their employers before marriage or divorce. Though this was regarded as an infringement of privacy, it helped assure applicants' single status and financial situation.

　　"Social workers are introduced to fill the blank left by new regulations," Zhou said. "They will be helpful for the better understanding and utility of laws."