- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (01/03/2015)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 21/12/2018
Point in time view as at 01/03/2015.
Marriage Act 1949 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 1 substituted (5.12.2005 for the purposes of Sch. 1 Pts. 1, 2 only) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(10)(b), Sch. 27 para. 17; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(2)(5)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Sch. 1 modified (6.4.2010) by The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/985), regs. 1(1), 5, Sch. 4
1(1)The list referred to in section 1(1) is—E+W
Adoptive child
Adoptive parent
Child
Former adoptive child
Former adoptive parent
Grandparent
Grandchild
Parent
Parent’s sibling
Sibling
Sibling’s child
(2)In the list “sibling” means a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister.
2E+WThe list referred to in section 1(2) is as follows—
Child of former civil partner
Child of former spouse
Former civil partner of grandparent
Former civil partner of parent
Former spouse of grandparent
Former spouse of parent
Grandchild of former civil partner
Grandchild of former spouse]
Textual Amendments
F2Sch. 1 Pt. 3 repealed (1.3.2007) by The Marriage Act 1949 (Remedial) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/438), arts. 1(1), 3(a)(iii) (with s. 1(2))
F23E+W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 3.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F3Sch. 2 repealed (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108, Sch.15 (with saving in Sch. 14 para. 37, and with Sch. 14 paras. 1(1), 27(4)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
Section 68.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F4Sch. 3 repealed (with saving) by Armed Forces Act 1981 (c. 55, SIF 7:1), s. 28(2), Sch. 5 Pt. I
Textual Amendments
F5Sch. 3A inserted (1.3.2015) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 75(3), Sch. 4 para. 9 (with Sch. 9 para. 66); S.I. 2015/371, art. 2(1)(f)
1(1)These are the modifications subject to which this Act has effect if the superintendent registrar refers a proposed marriage to the Secretary of State.E+W
(2)In this Schedule—
“2014 Act” means the Immigration Act 2014;
“referred marriage” means the proposed marriage referred to the Secretary of State.
2(1)The duty under section 31(2) to issue a certificate in respect of the referred marriage does not apply unless and until one of the following events occurs.E+W
(2)Event 1 occurs if—
(a)the Secretary of State gives the superintendent registrar the section 48 notice, and
(b)that notice is of a decision not to investigate whether the referred marriage is a sham.
(3)Event 2 occurs if—
(a)the relevant statutory period ends, and
(b)the Secretary of State has not given the superintendent registrar the section 48 notice.
(4)Event 3 occurs if—
(a)the Secretary of State gives the superintendent registrar the section 48 notice,
(b)that notice is of a decision to investigate whether the referred marriage is a sham,
(c)the Secretary of State gives the superintendent registrar the section 50 notice, and
(d)that notice is of a decision that both of the parties to the referred marriage have complied with the investigation.
(5)Event 4 occurs if—
(a)the 70 day period ends, and
(b)the Secretary of State has not given the superintendent registrar the section 50 notice.
(6)Event 5 occurs if the Secretary of State gives the superintendent registrar notice that the duty under section 31(2) is applicable.
(7)The Secretary of State may give a notice for that purpose only if—
(a)the Secretary of State has given the superintendent registrar the section 48 notice,
(b)that notice is of a decision to investigate whether the referred marriage is a sham,
(c)the Secretary of State has given the superintendent registrar the section 50 notice, and
(d)that notice is of a decision that one or both of the parties to the referred marriage have not complied with the investigation.
(8)This paragraph applies in addition to any other requirements applicable to the issue of the certificate.
(9)This paragraph is subject to paragraph 4.
(10)In this paragraph—
“70 day period” has the same meaning as in section 50 of the 2014 Act;
“relevant statutory period” has the same meaning as in section 48 of the 2014 Act;
“section 48 notice” means notice under section 48(7) of the 2014 Act;
“section 50 notice” means notice under section 50(7) of the 2014 Act.
3(1)The modifications in this paragraph have effect if the Secretary of State gives the superintendent registrar notice under section 48(7) of the 2014 Act of a decision to investigate whether the referred marriage is a sham.E+W
(2)Section 31(2): the reference to the said period of 28 days has effect as a reference to the relevant 70 day period.
(3)Section 31(4A)(a): the reference to the period of 28 days has effect as a reference to the relevant 70 day period.
(4)Section 31(5A) and (5C): the reference to the 28 day period has effect as a reference to the relevant 70 day period.
(5)Section 31(5B) does not apply.
(6)Section 75(3)(a): the reference to 28 days has effect as a reference to 70 days (and the reference in section 31(5C) to 28 days has effect accordingly).
(7)In this paragraph “relevant 70 day period” means the period—
(a)beginning the day after notice of the proposed marriage is entered in the marriage book in accordance with Part 3 of the Marriage Act 1949, or is entered in an approved electronic form by virtue of section 27(4A) of that Act, and
(b)ending at the end of the period of 70 days beginning with that day.
4(1)This paragraph applies if—E+W
(a)the Secretary of State gives notice under section 31(5EB) of the grant of an application made under section 31(5A) (reduction of statutory period) in relation to the referred marriage, and
(b)that notice is given at a time when the duty under section 31(2) to issue a certificate in respect of the referred marriage has not arisen in accordance with paragraph 2.
(2)The duty under subsection 31(2) to issue a certificate in respect of the referred marriage arises on the giving of the notice, subject to any other requirements applicable to the issue of the certificate being met.
(3)But the requirements of paragraph 2 are not applicable in such a case.
(4)The Secretary of State is not prevented from deciding to conduct, conducting, or continuing, an investigation if a certificate in respect of the referred marriage is issued as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2).
(5)But in such a case, nothing in the 2014 Act requires the Secretary of State to decide whether to conduct, to conduct, or to continue, an investigation.
(6)In this paragraph “investigation” means an investigation, conducted following a decision by the Secretary of State under section 48 of the 2014 Act, whether a proposed marriage is a sham.]
Sections 69, 70.
Subsection (4) of section six.
Paragraph (b) of subsection (I) of section fifteen.
The proviso to section seventeen.
Section eighteen.
Section twenty.
Subsection (3) of section thirty-five.
The proviso to subsection (1) of section forty-four.
Sections fifty-three to fifty-seven, fifty-nine and sixty, so far as those sections relate to the registration of marriages by clergymen and to the duties of incumbents in relation to marriage register books.
Subsection (1) of section six shall apply as if the chapel were the parish church of the parish in which the chapel is situated.
Subsection (3) of section seven shall apply as if for the reference to the parochial church council there were substituted, in relation to a naval chapel, a reference to the Admiralty and, in relation to any other chapel, a reference to a Secretary of State.
Section eight shall apply as if it required the notice in writing mentioned therein to include a statement that one at least of the persons to be married is a qualified person within the meaning of Part V of this Act, and to specify the person so qualified and the nature of his qualification.
Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section fifteen shall apply as if the chapel were the parish church of the parish in which the chapel is situated.
Subsection (1) of section sixteen shall apply as if it required the oath, which is to be taken thereunder, to include a statement that one at least of the persons to be married is a qualified person within the meaning of Part V of this Act and to specify the person so qualified and the nature of his qualification.
Subsection (3) of section twenty-seven shall apply as if it required the notice of marriage to include a statment that one at least of the persons to be married is a qualified person within the meaning of Part V of this Act and to specify the person so qualified and the nature of his qualification.
Section fifty shall apply as if for the reference to the officiating clergyman there were substituted a reference to the clergyman appointed under section sixty-nine of this Act for the purpose of registering marriages, in whose presence the marriage is solemnized.
The proviso to section seventeen.
F6. . .
Textual Amendments
F6Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 3 repealed (1.1.2001) by 1999 c. 33, s. 169(1)(3), Sch. 14 paras. 3, 32, Sch. 16; S.I. 2000/2698, art. 2
Section forty-one.
Section forty-two.
[F7The proviso to subsection (1) of section forty-three.]
Textual Amendments
F7Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 3 inserted by Marriage Acts Amendment Act 1958 (c. 29), s. 1(2)
[F8Sections 43A and 43C. ]
Textual Amendments
F8Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 3 inserted (3.6.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 7 para. 21(2); S.I. 2014/93, art. 5(d)
The proviso to subsection (1) of section forty-four.
Subsection (3) of section twenty-seven shall apply as if it required the notice of marriage to include a statement that one at least of the persons to be married is a qualified person within the meaning of Part V of this Act and to specify the person so qualified and the nature of his qualification.
Sections forty-three, [F943B,] forty-four and fifty-four shall apply as if for any reference to the trustees or governing body of a building there were substituted a reference to the Admiralty or any person authorised by them, in the case of a naval chapel, and a reference to a Secretary of State or any person authorised by him, in the case of any other chapel.
Textual Amendments
F9Word in Sch. 4 Pt. 4 inserted (3.6.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 7 para. 21(3); S.I. 2014/93, art. 5(d)
Section 79.
Session and Chapter | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
---|---|---|
. . . F10 | . . . F10 | . . . F10 |
62 & 63 Vict. c.27. | The Marriages Validity Act, 1899. | The whole Act so far as it relates to marriages solemnized in England. |
. . . F10 | . . . F10 | . . . F10 |
8 Edw. 7, c.26. | The Naval Marriages Act, 1908. | The whole Act so far as it relates to marriages solemnized in England. |
. . . F10 | . . . F10 | . . . F10 |
2 & 3 Geo. 6, c.33. | The Marriage Act, 1939 | Section one, so far as it relates to marriages solemnized in England |
. . . F10 | . . . F10 | . . . F10 |
Textual Amendments
F10Entries repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1953 (2 & 3 Eliz. 2 c. 5), Sch. 1
Textual Amendments
F11Entries repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1953 (2 & 3 Eliz. 2 c. 5), Sch. 1
Section 80.
. . . F12
Textual Amendments
F12Words repealed by Marriages (Wales and Monmouthshire) Act 1962 (c. 32), s. 1(1)
Section ten.
. . . F12
Section nineteen.
Subsection (7) of section twenty.
. . . F13
Textual Amendments
F13Entry repealed as provided by Marriage (Wales) Act 1986 (c. 7, SIF 49:1), s. 1
. . . F12
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: