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Part VS General

MiscellaneousS

48 Decrees of court altering status.S

Where a decree altering the status of any person has been granted by any competent court the clerk of court shall, where no appeal has been made against such decree, on the expiration of the time within which such an appeal may be made, or where an appeal has been made against such a decree, on the conclusion of any appellate proceedings, notify the import of such decree in the prescribed form to the Registrar General who shall thereupon cause an appropriate entry to be made—

[F1(a)where the decree is of divorce or of declarator of nullity of marriage, in the Register of Divorces; and

(b)in any other case,]

in the Register of Corrections Etc.

49 Signing by mark by persons unable to write.S

If any person whose signature is necessary under this Act is unable to write, it shall be lawful for him to adhibit a cross or other mark in the presence of the district registrar or two witnesses who shall also adhibit their signatures and designations, and such cross or mark shall be in all respects as binding and effectual as the signature of such person would have been if he had been capable of writing.

50 Events occurring in institutions.S

The chief officer, matron or other person in charge of a hospital, F2. . . or other such institution [F3or of accommodation provided by a care home service (“care home service” having the meaning given by [F4paragraph 2 of schedule 12 to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010] (asp 8))] who has been so requested by the Registrar General, shall, at such times and in such manner as the Registrar General may require, transmit to the district registrar of the registration district in which the institution [F5or accommodation] is situate, a list containing particulars of births and deaths occurring in such institution [F5or accommodation].

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 50 repealed (1.4.2002) by 2001 asp 8, s. 79, Sch. 3 para. 2(a); S.S.I. 2002/162, arts. 1, 2(h) (subject to arts. 3-13)

F3Words in s. 50 inserted (1.4.2002) by 2001 asp 8, s. 79, Sch. 3 para. 2(b); S.S.I. 2002/162, arts. 1, 2(h) (subject to arts. 3-13)

F5Words in s. 50 inserted (1.4.2002) by 2001 asp 8, s. 79, Sch. 3 para. 2(c); S.S.I. 2002/162, arts. 1, 2(h) (subject to arts. 3-13)

51 Returns to be made by registrar.S

Every district registrar shall—

(a)at such times and in such manner as the Registrar General may direct, furnish to the Registrar General returns relating to the entries of births, deaths and marriages and any other information obtained by the registrar in the execution of his duties which the Registrar General may require, and

(b)supply to the [F6Chief administrative medical officer of the Health Board] in whose area the registration office is situate such periodical returns of births and deaths as may be required by the Secretary of State.

52 Sending of documents by post.S

Any notice, information, declaration, certificate, requisition, return or other document required to be served, sent or issued by a district registrar by or under this Act [F7or the M1Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977] may, unless the context otherwise requires, be sent by post or in accordance with any directions which may be given by the Registrar General.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

53 Offences.S

(1)If any person commits any of the following offences, that is to say—

(a)if he knowingly gives to a district registrar [F8or the Registrar General] information which is false in a material particular;

(b)if he falsifies or forges any extract, certificate or declaration issued or made, or purporting to be issued or made, under this Act; or

(c)if he knowingly uses, or gives or sends to any person, as genuine any false or forged extract, certificate or declaration issued or made, or purporting to be issued or made, under this Act,

he shall be liable

(i)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both;

(ii)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £100 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.

(2)If any person commits any of the following offences, that is to say—

(a)if he wilfully or negligently destroys, obliterates, erases or injures any entry in any register kept under this Act, or causes or permits the register or any part thereof to be destroyed, obliterated, erased or injured; or

(b)if he knowingly gives to a district registrar, for the purpose of registration in a register, particulars of a birth or of a death which have already been registered in that or any other register,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F9level 3 on the standard scale].

(3)If any person commits any of the following offences, that is to say—

(a)if being required by or under this Act to give information concerning any birth or death or any dead body, he wilfully refuses to answer any question put to him by a district registrar relating to the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth or death, or save as provided in this Act, fails to comply with any requirement of a district registrar made thereunder;

(b)if he refuses or fails without reasonable cause to give, deliver or send any certificate which he is required by this Act to give, deliver or send;

(c)if, being a parent, and save as provided in this Act, he fails [F10without reasonable excuse]to give information concerning the birth of his child as required by this Act;

(d)if, being a person upon whom duty to give information concerning a death is imposed by section 23(1) of this Act, he fails to give that information and that information is not given; or

(e)if he passes as genuine any reproduction of an extract F11... if such reproduction has not been authenticated in accordance with section 41(1) of this Act,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F12level 1 on the standard scale].

54 Regulations. S

(1)The Registrar General may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, by statutory instrument make regulations—

(a)prescribing the circumstances, of hardship or otherwise, in which fees prescribed under this Act may be remitted by the Registrar General;

(b)prescribing anything which by this Act is required to be prescribed;

(c) . . . F13

(d) . . . F14

[F15(1A)Regulations prescribing the form of a register of marriages under section 32 may make different provision for different cases or circumstances.]

(2)Any statutory instrument containing regulations . . . F16

[F17(a)prescribing fees for the purposes of this Act]

[F18(b)prescribing cases or classes of case for the purpose of section 20(1A)(b) of this Act,]

shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3)The M2Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to a statutory instrument containing regulations made under this section as if the regulations had been made by a Minister of the Crown.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1S. 54: for previous exercises of power see Index to Government Orders

P2S. 54(1): s. 54(1) (with ss. 28A(4), 37(2)(3), 38(2)(3), 40(1), 43(8), 47 and 56) power exercised by S.I.1991/2817.

P3S. 54(1)(b): s. 42(2)(with s. 54(1)(b)) power exercised by S.I. 1991/1260

Textual Amendments

F15S. 54(1A) inserted (1.9.2014) by Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 5), ss. 33, 36; S.S.I. 2014/212, art. 2, Sch. (as amended (1.9.2014) by S.S.I. 2014/218, art. 2(3), Sch.)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Marginal Citations

M21946. c. 36.

[F1954AForm, and manner of attestation, of documentsS

(1)Regulations prescribing the form of a document may, unless the document requires to be signed, make provision for the document to be electronic rather than paper-based.

(2)Regulations prescribing the manner in which a document requires to be attested may make different provision for different cases or circumstances.]

55 Expenses.S

There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of moneys so provided by way of Exchequer Equalisation Grant under the enactments relating to local government in Scotland.

56 Interpretation.S

(1)In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings respectively assigned to them, that is to say—

(2)Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any other enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

[F28(3)Section 1(1) (legal equality of children) of the Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 shall apply to this Act; and any reference (however expressed) in this Act to a relative shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed accordingly.]

Subordinate Legislation Made

P4S. 56: s. 54(1) (with ss. 28A(4), 37(2)(3), 38(2)(3), 40(1), 43(8), 47 and 56) power exercised by S.I. 1991/2817.

Textual Amendments

F20Definition of “local authority” in s. 56(1) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 51(5) (with s. 7(2)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(a), Sch. 1

F24Definition in s. 56(1) inserted (1.11.1995) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 12(5); S.I. 1995/2787, art. 3, Sch.

F26Words in s. 56(1) inserted (14.9.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 136, 263(3); S.S.I. 2005/428, art. 2, Sch.

F27Words in s. 56(1) substituted (1.10.1992) by Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992 (c. 29), ss. 1(2), 4(2).

57 Savings etc.S

(1)Any registration effected, extract or certificate issued, notice or information given, order, regulations or return made or other thing done under any enactment repealed by this Act shall, if in force at the commencement of this Act, continue in force and have effect as if effected, issued, given, made or done under the corresponding provision of this Act.

F29(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F29(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)Any document referring to an enactment repealed by this Act shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as referring to the corresponding provision of this Act.

(5)Nothing in this Act shall affect any provision of the M3Population Statistics Act 1938 requiring particulars to be furnished for the purposes of that Act.

(6)Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section or in the provisions of the next following section shall be taken as prejudicing the operation of [F30sections 16(1) and 17(2)(a) of the M4Interpretation Act 1978] which [F30relate] to the effect of repeals.

Textual Amendments

F29S. 57(2)(3) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s.1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII.

F30Words substituted by virtue of Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), s. 25(2)

Marginal Citations

58 Consequential amendments and repeals. S

(1)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments respectively specified in that Schedule, being amendments consequential on the provisions of this Act.

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4The text of s. 58(1) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

59 Short title, extent and commence-ment.S

(1)This Act may be cited as the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965.

(2)This Act shall extend to Scotland only.

(3)This Act shall come into force on 1st January 1966.