The Referral and Investigation of Proposed Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Northern Ireland and Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2015

2.  In section 48 (decision whether to investigate)—

(a) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) This section also applies if—

(a) a registrar refers a proposed marriage to the Secretary of State under Article 3E of the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003(1), or

(b) a registrar refers a proposed civil partnership to the Secretary of State under section 139E of the Civil Partnership Act 2004(2).”;

(b) in subsection (7) after “proposed marriage” in the first place it occurs insert “referred to the Secretary of State as mentioned in subsection (1)(a)”;

(c) in subsection (8) after “proposed civil partnership” in the first place it occurs insert “referred to the Secretary of State as mentioned in subsection (1)(b)”;

(d) after subsection (8) insert—

“(8A) In the case of a proposed marriage referred to the Secretary of State as mentioned in subsection (1A)(a), the Secretary of State must give notice of the decision made under this section to—

(a) both of the parties to the proposed marriage, and

(b) the registrar who referred the proposed marriage to the Secretary of State.

(8B) In the case of a proposed civil partnership referred to the Secretary of State as mentioned in subsection (1A)(b), the Secretary of State must give notice of the decision made under this section to—

(a) both of the parties to the proposed civil partnership, and

(b) the registrar who referred the proposed civil partnership to the Secretary of State.”

(1)

S.I. 2003/413 (N.I. 3); section 3E is inserted by article 3 of Schedule 1 to this Order.

(2)

2004 c. 33; section 139E is inserted by article 2 of Schedule 3 to this Order.