3.20—(1) An application under section 3 of the Marriage Act 1949 (1)(in this rule referred to as “section 3”) for the consent of the court to the marriage of a minor shall be dealt with in chambers unless the court otherwise directs.
(2) The application may be heard and determined by a district judge.
(3) An application under section 3 may be brought without the intervention of the applicant’s next friend, unless the court otherwise directs.
(4) Where an application under section 3 follows a refusal to give consent to marriage every person who has refused consent shall be made a defendant to the summons or a respondent to the application, as appropriate.
(5) The application shall, unless the court orders otherwise, be served not less than seven days before the date upon which the application is to be heard.
1949 c. 76; section 3 was amended by sections 2(2) and 2(3) of the Family Law Reform Act 1969 (c. 46), the Children Act 1975 (c. 72), Schedule 3, paragraph 7, the Family Law Reform Act 1987 (c. 42), Schedule 2, paragraph 9, and the Children Act 1989 (c. 41), Schedule 12, paragraph 5.