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Marriage Act 1949
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- 01/02/1991- Amendment
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- 04/05/2021
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47 Marriages according to usages of Society of Friends.E+W
(1)No person who is not a member of the Society of Friends shall be married according to the usages of that Society unless he or she is authorised to be so married under or in pursuance of a general rule of the said Society in England.
(2)A marriage solemnized according to the said usages shall not be valid unless either—
(a)[F1each person] giving notice of marriage declares, either verbally or, if so required, in writing, that each of the parties to the marriage is either a member of the Society of Friends or is in profession with or of the persuasion of that Society; or
(b)there is produced to the superintendent registrar, at the time when notice of marriage is given, a certificate purporting to be signed by [F2an] officer of the Society of Friends in England to the effect that any party to the marriage who is not a member of the Society of Friends or in profession with or of the persuasion of that Society, is authorised to be married according to the said usages under or in pursuance of a general rule of the said Society in England.
(3)Any such certificate as aforesaid shall be for all purposes conclusive evidence that any person to whom it relates is authorised to be married according to the usages of the said Society, and [F3a certified copy of the entry of the marriage in the marriage register made under Part 4 of this Act], shall be conclusive evidence of the production of such a certificate.
(4)A copy of any general rule of the Society of Friends purporting to be signed by the recording clerk for the time being of the said Society in London shall be admitted as evidence of the general rule in all proceedings touching the validity of any marriage solemnized according to the usages of the said Society.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 47(2)(a) substituted (1.1.2001) by 1999 c. 33, s. 169(1), Sch. 14 paras. 3, 25; S.I. 2000/2698, art. 2
F2Word in s. 47(2)(b) substituted (4.5.2021) by The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 33(2) (with Sch. 2)
F3Words in s. 47(3) substituted (4.5.2021) by The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 33(3) (with Sch. 2)
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