Marriage Act 1949

[F1 53D Registration of marriage E+W

(1) Subsection (2) applies in the case of a marriage that is solemnized—

(a) after the publication of banns,

(b) on the authority of a special licence, or

(c) on the authority of a common licence.

(2) Once the marriage document for the marriage is signed in accordance with section 53B, the clergyman who solemnized the marriage must ensure that the marriage document is delivered to a registrar in the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized within 21 days beginning with the day on which the signing of the marriage document was completed.

(3) In the case of a marriage that is solemnized on the authority of a marriage schedule—

(a) where the marriage is attended by a registrar, that registrar must take custody of the marriage schedule once it is signed in accordance with section 53C;

(b) otherwise, once the marriage schedule is signed in accordance with section 53C, the specified person must ensure that it is delivered to a registrar in the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized within 21 days beginning with the day on which the signing of the marriage schedule was completed.

(4) The duty imposed by subsections (2) or (3)(b) to ensure the marriage document or (as the case may be) marriage schedule is delivered to a registrar may be discharged by sending a copy in an approved electronic form.

(5) Subsection (6) applies if the signed marriage document or (as the case may be) marriage schedule is not delivered to a registrar in the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized within 21 days beginning with the day on which the signing of the marriage document or marriage schedule was completed.

(6) A registrar in the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized may issue a notice, in any form, and with any content, that may be prescribed, to the specified person requiring them to deliver the marriage document or (as the case may be) marriage schedule to a registrar, in that registration district, within 8 days beginning with the day on which the notice is issued.

(7) Subsection (8) applies if the signed marriage document or (as the case may be) marriage schedule is not delivered in accordance with a notice issued under subsection (6).

(8) A registrar in the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized may issue a further notice, in any form, and with any content, that may be prescribed, to the specified person, requiring the personal attendance of the specified person at premises in the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized, for the purpose of—

(a) delivering the signed marriage document or (as the case may be) marriage schedule to the registrar, or

(b) if the specified person is not able to do so, explaining to the registrar why this is the case.

(9) A specified person who is issued with a notice under subsection (8) must comply with the requirements of the notice within 8 days beginning with the day on which the notice was issued.

(10) A registrar who has a signed marriage document or marriage schedule—

(a) must, as soon as reasonably practicable, register the marriage by entering the particulars in the marriage document or marriage schedule into the marriage register;

(b) may issue a certified copy of the entry in the marriage register.

(11) Information regarding a signed marriage document or marriage schedule may be provided by a registrar for the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized to a specified person in that registration district for the purposes of establishing—

(a) whether the marriage document or marriage schedule is authentic, or

(b) whether every marriage document signed under section 53B and every marriage schedule signed under section 53C in that registration district has been registered under subsection (10).

(12) Where a registrar has provided information to a specified person in accordance with subsection (11), that specified person may, for any of the purposes mentioned in that subsection, provide that registrar with information regarding any marriage document or marriage schedule signed or alleged to have been signed in the registration district concerned.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 53A-53E inserted (27.3.2021 for specified purposes, 4.5.2021 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411), regs. 1(2)(4)(b)(5)(a), 7 (with Sch. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 53D applied (with modifications) (4.5.2021) by 1970 c. 34, s. 15 (as amended by The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 56(11) (with Sch. 2))