PART 2Consular marriages

Oath before marriage8

Before a marriage is solemnized under this Order, each of the parties entering into the marriage must appear before a registration officer and sign, in a book kept by a registration officer for the purpose, a declaration—

a

that he or she believes —

i

where the relevant part of the United Kingdom is England and Wales, that there is no impediment to the marriage such that the marriage would be void under section 1 of the Marriage Act 19493 or other lawful hindrance;

ii

where the relevant part of the United Kingdom is Scotland, that there is no impediment to the marriage such that the marriage would be void under section 2 of the Marriage (Scotland) Act 19774 (marriage of related persons) or other lawful hindrance;

b

that both of the parties have for a period of 21 days ending on the day on which the declaration is made had their usual residence within the consular district of the registration officer; and

c

where either party is under the age of 18 and the relevant part of the United Kingdom is England and Wales—

i

that any consent to the marriage which is required in respect of that party has been obtained;

ii

that the necessity of obtaining any such consent in respect of that party has been dispensed with; or

iii

that the party is either a widow or a widower or surviving civil partner or that there is no person having authority to give any such consent.