The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014

PART 2 GENERAL INTERPRETATION

Interpretation: existing Scottish legislation

2.—(1) 1In existing Scottish legislation—

(a) a reference to marriage is to be read as including a reference to marriage of a same sex couple;

(b) a reference to a married couple is to be read as including a reference to a married same sex couple;

(c) a reference to a person who is married is to be read as including a reference to a person who is married to a person of the same sex.

(2) In existing Scottish legislation—

(a) a reference to persons who are not married but are living together as a married couple is to be read as including a reference to a same sex couple who are not married but are living together as a married couple;

(b) a reference to a person who is living with another person as if they were married is to be read as including a reference to a person who is living with another person of the same sex as if they were married.

(3) Where sub-paragraph (1) or (2) requires a reference to be read in a particular way, any related reference (such as a reference to a marriage that has ended, or a reference to a person whose marriage has ended) is to be read accordingly.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) it does not matter how the reference is expressed.

(5) Sub-paragraph (6) applies to existing Scottish legislation which deals differently with—

(a) a man and a woman living together as if married; and

(b) two men, or two women, living together as if civil partners.

(6) If two men, or two women, are living together as if married, that legislation applies to them in the way that it would apply to them if they were living together as civil partners.

(7) This paragraph does not limit paragraph 1(1) or 1(2).

Interpretation: new Scottish legislation

3.—(1) This paragraph applies to provision made by—

(a) this order; or

(b) new Scottish legislation.

(2) The following expressions have the meanings given—

(a) “husband” includes a man who is married to another man;

(b) “wife” includes a woman who is married to another woman;

(c) “widower” includes a man whose marriage to another man ended with the other man’s death;

(d) “widow” includes a woman whose marriage to another woman ended with the other woman’s death,

and related expressions are to be construed accordingly.

(3) A reference to marriage of same sex couples is a reference to—

(a) marriage between two men; or

(b) marriage between two women.

(4) A reference to a marriage of a same sex couple is a reference to—

(a) a marriage between two men; or

(b) a marriage between two women.

(5) A reference to a same sex couple who are not married but are living together as a married couple is a reference to—

(a) two men who are not married but are living together as a married couple; or

(b) two women who are not married but are living together as a married couple.

(6) This paragraph does not limit paragraph 1(1) or (2).

Definitions

4.—(1) 3In this Schedule—

“existing Scottish legislation” means—

(a)

in the case of Scottish legislation that is primary legislation, legislation passed on or before the day on which section 4 of the 2014 Act comes into force;

(b)

in the case of Scottish legislation that is subordinate legislation, legislation that is made on or before that day;

“new Scottish legislation” means—

(c)

in the case of Scottish legislation that is primary legislation, legislation passed after the day on which section 4 of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 comes into force;

(d)

in the case of Scottish legislation that is subordinate legislation, legislation that is made after that day.