The Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Appeals N.I.

13.—(1) If the Registrar General refuses to register a person named in an application by a religious body under Article 10(1)—

(a) the Registrar General shall notify the body of his reasons for doing so; and

(b) the body may appeal to the Department not later than 28 days from the day on which it receives a notice under sub-paragraph (a).

(2) If the Registrar General cancels the registration of a person under Article 12, he shall notify that person and the body which applied for him to be registered of his reasons for doing so and—

(a) that person; or

(b) that body,

may appeal to the Department not later than 28 days from the day on which he or it receives a notice under this paragraph.

[F1 (2A) But there is no right of appeal—

(a) under paragraph (1)(b) where the refusal is under Article 10(1C); or

(b) under paragraph (2) in relation to so much of the cancellation as relates to marriages of parties who are of the same sex if—

(i) the cancellation in relation to marriages of that description is on the ground mentioned in Article 12(1)(a) or (b), and

(ii) the Registrar General has received written notice of the withdrawal of the consent of the body’s governing authority to the person solemnising marriages of parties who are of the same sex.]

(3) On an appeal under paragraph (1) or (2), the Department shall—

(a) notify the appellant of its decision; and

(b) give the Registrar General such directions (if any) as it thinks appropriate.

(4) If the Department dismisses an appeal under paragraph (1), the appellant may appeal to a county court.

F1 Art. 13(2A) inserted (1.9.2020) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/742), regs. 1(2), 7(4)