Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970

16 Offences. E+W

(1) It shall be an offence knowingly and wilfully—

(a) to solemnise a marriage by Registrar General’s licence in any place other than the place specified in the licence;

(b) to solemnise a marriage by Registrar General’s licence without the presence of a registrar except in the case of a marriage according to the usages of the Society of Friends or a marriage between two persons professing the Jewish religion according to the usages of the Jews;

(c) to solemnise a marriage by Registrar General’s licence after the expiration of one month from the date of entry of the notice of marriage in the [F1 marriage register];

(d) to give false information by way of evidence as required by section 3 of this Act;

(e) to give a false certificate as provided for in section 3(1)(d) of this Act;

and any person found guilty of any of the above-mentioned offences shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 or on indictment to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment not exceeding three years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(2) A superintendent registrar who knowingly and wilfully solemnises or permits to be solemnised in his presence, or a registrar who knowingly and wilfully registers a marriage by Registrar General’s licence which is void by virtue of Part III of the principal Act as amended by this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 or on indictment to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment not exceeding three years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(3) No prosecution under this section shall be commenced after the expiration of three years from the commission of the offence.

(4) The provisions of [F2 section] 75(2)(a) of the principal Act shall not apply to a marriage solemnised on the authority of the Registrar General’s licence.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 16(1)(c) substituted (4.5.2021) by The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 56(12) (with Sch. 2)

F2 Word in s. 16(4) substituted (1.10.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 114(2), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 3(m)