The Registration of Marriages etc. (Electronic Communications and Electronic Storage) Order 2009

Modification of section 57 of the 1949 Act

9.—(1) In section 57 of the 1949 Act (quarterly returns to be made to superintendent registrar), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) The duty imposed by subsection (1)(a) on a registrar may be discharged by making a copy in an approved electronic form of each entry in the marriage register book and delivering that copy to the superintendent registrar within the period of seven days beginning with the day on which the entry is made.

(2B) A copy delivered by virtue of subsection (2A) is a certified copy for the purposes of this section if the registrar incorporates an electronic signature into it or associates an electronic signature with it.

(2C) The duty imposed by subsection (1)(b) may be discharged by delivering the certificate in an approved electronic form.”

(2) After subsection (5) of that section insert —

“(5A) Where the certified copy is delivered in an approved electronic form by virtue of subsection (2A), the duty under subsection (5) to certify it as a true copy may be discharged by incorporating an electronic signature into it or associating an electronic signature with it.

(5B) In this section, “electronic signature” has the meaning given in section 7(2) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000.”