1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), this Order shall come into operation on such day or days as the Department may by order appointF1.
(3) This Article and Article 2 shall come into operation on the expiration of one month from the day on which this Order is made.
F1fully exercised by SR 2003/466
2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33) applies to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
(2) In this Order—
“civil marriage” means a marriage solemnised by a person appointed under Article 31;
“the Department” means the Department of Finance and Personnel;
“district” means a registration district within the meaning of Article 30(1);
“marriage notice” has the meaning given by Article 3(2);
“marriage notice book” has the meaning given by Article 4(2);
“medical practitioner” means a fully registered person within the meaning of the Medical Act 1983 (c. 54);
“officiant” means a person registered under Article 11 or temporarily authorised under Article 14;
“prescribed”, except in relation to a fee, means prescribed by regulations and in relation to a fee means prescribed by order under Article 37;
“registrar”, except in Article 8, has the meaning given by Article 3(2);
“regulations” means regulations made by the Department;
“religious body” means an organised group of people meeting regularly for common religious worship;
“religious marriage” means a marriage solemnised by an officiant;
“statutory provision” has the meaning given by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33);
“young person” means a person who is over the age of 16 but under the age of 18.
(3) Regulations may provide for references in this Order to a person solemnising a marriage to be construed in prescribed cases as such person as may be prescribed.