2014 No. 212 (C. 18)

Civil Partnership
Gender Recognition
Marriage

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provisions) Order 2014

Made

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 36(2) and (3) of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 20141 and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

This Order may be cited as the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 and comes into force on 1st September 2014.

2

In this Order—

  • “the 1977 Act” means the Marriage (Scotland) Act 19772;

  • “the 2004 Act” means the Civil Partnership Act 20043;

  • “the 2014 Act” means the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014;

  • “the GRA 2004” means the Gender Recognition Act 20044.

Appointed day2

1

Subject to article 3, the appointed day is 1st September 2014 for the provisions of the 2014 Act specified in column 1 of the Schedule (the subject matter of which is described in column 2 of the Schedule).

2

Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of the Schedule in relation to any provision, the provision comes into force on 1st September 2014 for that purpose only.

Saving3

1

The Marriage (Prescription of Religious Bodies) (Scotland) Regulations 19775 continue to have effect despite the coming into force on 1st September 2014, for the purposes specified in the Schedule, of section 12(2) of the 2014 Act.

2

The abolition of the common law offence of bigamy by section 28(3) of the 2014 Act does not apply to—

a

any marriages or purported marriages entered into before 1st September 2014, and any prosecution in relation to such marriages or purported marriages where proceedings commence or after that date; or

b

any prosecution for the common law offence of bigamy where proceedings commenced before that date.

ALEX NEILA member of the Scottish GovernmentSt Andrew’s House,Edinburgh

SCHEDULE

Article 2

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision

Subject matter

Purpose

Section 4(8) to (10)

Meaning of marriage and related expressions in enactments and documents

Section 6

Jurisdiction in proceedings relating to same sex marriages

For the purpose of bringing into force the provisions of schedule 1 to the 2014 Act referred to in column 1.

Section 9

Power to modify meaning of “qualifying civil partnership”

Section 10

Change of qualifying civil partnership into marriage

Section 11(5) and (6)

Effect of marriage between civil partners in a qualifying civil partnership

Section 12(2)(a) and (b)

Persons who may solemnise marriage, and qualifying requirements

For the purpose of making regulations under section 8(1)(a)(ii), (1B)(a)(i) and (1E) to (1G) of the 1977 Act.

Section 13(2)(e)

Registration of nominated persons as celebrants, and qualifying requirements

For the purpose of making regulations under section 9(2A) to (2C) of the 1977 Act.

Section 14(2)

Qualifying requirements for temporary authorisation of celebrants

For the purpose of making regulations under section 12(1D) to (1F) of the 1977 Act.

Section 17

Power of district registrar to require evidence of nationality: marriage

Section 18(2)(a)

The Marriage Schedule

Section 21

Places at which civil marriages may be solemnised

Section 24(13)

Registration of civil partnership, and qualifying requirements

For the purpose of making regulations under section 94A(1)(a)(i) and (5), section 94B(3) and section 94E(4) of the 2004 Act.

Section 24(15)

Registration of civil partnership

For the purpose of prescribing forms of notice referred to in section 95ZA(1) and (2) of the 2004 Act.

Section 25

Power of district registrar to require evidence of nationality: civil partnership

Section 28

Bigamy

Section 29

Change of gender of married persons or civil partners

For the purpose of bringing into force the provisions of schedule 2 to the 2014 Act referred to in column 1.

Section 30

Renewed marriage or civil partnership following issue of full gender recognition certificate

Section 33

Form of register of marriages

Paragraph 1(4) of schedule 1

Jurisdiction in relation to same sex marriages

For the purpose of making regulations under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1B to the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 19736.

Paragraph 7 of schedule 2

Applications for change of gender by civil partners

For the purpose of making an order under section 5D of the GRA 2004.

Paragraph 9(2)(b) of schedule 2

Marriage and civil partnership registration following gender recognition

For the purpose of making regulations under paragraph 20A of Schedule 3 to the GRA 2004.

Paragraph 15 of schedule 2

Alternative grounds for granting applications for gender recognition

For the purpose of making an order under section 3C(5)(b)(ii) of the GRA 2004.

Paragraph 17 of schedule 2

Evidence for granting applications on alternative grounds

For the purpose of making an order under section 3D(6)(b) of the GRA 2004.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order bring into force sections 4(8) to (10), 9, 10, 11(5) and (6), 17, 18(2)(a), 21, 25, 28, 30 and 33 of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”).

It also brings into force sections 6, 12(2)(a) and (b), 13(2)(e), 14(2), 24(13) and (15) and 29 of and paragraph 1(4) of schedule 1 and paragraphs 7, 9(2)(b), 15 and 17 of schedule 2 to the 2014 Act only for purposes set out in column 3 of the Schedule to the Order.

The appointed day in article 2 for all of these provisions to come into force is 1st September 2014.

Article 3 makes saving provisions about existing regulations and in relation to the common law offence of bigamy.

The Bill for the 2014 Act received Royal Assent on 12th March 2014. Sections 34 to 37 of the 2014 Act came into force on the day after Royal Assent.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT ORDERS

(This note is not part of the Order)

Provision

Date of Commencement

S.S.I.No.

Section 7

21st May 2014

2014/121

Section 19

21st May 2014

2014/121

Section 20

21st May 2014

2014/121

Section 22

21st May 2014

2014/121

Section 23

21st May 2014

2014/121

Section 27

21st May 2014

2014/121

Section 32

21st May 2014

2014/121