Foreign Marriage Act 1892 (repealed)

8 Solemnization of marriage at office in presence of marriage officer and two witnesses. U.K.

(1) After the expiration of fourteen days after the notice of an intended marriage has been entered under this Act, then, if no lawful impediment to the marriage is shown to the satisfaction of the marriage officer, and the marriage has not been forbidden in manner provided by this Act, the marriage may be solemnized under this Act.

[F1 (2) Every such marriage shall be solemnised—

(a) at the official house of the marriage officer, with open doors, between 8 am and 6 pm, in the presence of two or more witnesses;

(b) by the marriage officer or, if the parties so desire, by another person in his presence; and

(c) according to such form and ceremony as the parties see fit to adopt.

(3) Where (apart from this subsection) it would not be stated or otherwise indicated in the course of the ceremony adopted by the parties that neither of them knows of any lawful impediment to their marriage, then, in some part of the ceremony and in the presence of the marriage officer and witnesses, they shall each declare—

“I solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why A.B. [or C.D.] may not be joined in matrimony to C.D. [or A.B.].”

(4) Where (apart from this subsection) it would not be stated by each of the parties in the course of the ceremony adopted by them that he or she takes the other as wife or husband, then, in some part of the ceremony and in the presence of the marriage officer and witnesses, each of the parties shall say to the other—

“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I A.B. [ or C.D.] take thee C.D. [or A.B.] to be my lawful wedded wife [or husband]”.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 8(2)–(4) substituted for subsections (2) and (3) by Foreign Marriage (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 44, SIF 49:1), s. 4