PART 1Marriage of same sex couples in England and Wales

The Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970

7Opt-in: “deathbed marriages”

In section 1 of the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970 (marriages which may be solemnized by Registrar General’s Licence), after subsection (2) insert—

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A marriage of a same sex couple according to religious rites or usages may not be solemnized in accordance with this Act unless the relevant governing authority has given written consent to marriages of same sex couples according to those religious rites or usages.

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For that purpose—

  • “relevant governing authority” means the person or persons recognised by the members of the relevant religious organisation as competent for the purpose of giving consent for the purposes of this section;

  • “relevant religious organisation” means the religious organisation according to whose rites or usages the marriage is to be solemnized.