Marriage Act 1949

Miscellaneous ProvisionsE+W

48 Proof of certain matters not necessary to validity of marriages. E+W

(1)Where any marriage has been solemnized under the provisions of this Part of this Act, it shall not be necessary in support of the marriage to give any proof—

(a)that before the marriage either of the parties thereto resided, or resided for any period, in the registration district stated in the [F1notices] of marriage to be that of his or her place of residence;

F2(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)that the registered building in which the marriage was solemnized had been certified as required by law as a place of religious worship;

(d)that that building was the usual place of worship of either of the parties to the marriage; F3...

[F4(da)that, in the case of a marriage under section 26B(2), (4) or (6), the relevant governing authority had given consent as mentioned in section 26B(2)(b), (4)(b) or (6)(d);]

(e)that the facts stated in a declaration made under subsection (1) of section thirty-five of this Act were correct; F5[F6...

(ea)that, in the case of a marriage under section 26A, the relevant governing authority had given consent as mentioned in section 26A(3);] [F7or

(eb)that, in the case of a marriage to which Schedule 3A applied, any of the events listed in paragraph 2(2) to (6) of that Schedule occurred.]

nor shall any evidence be given to prove the contrary in any proceedings touching the validity of the marriage.

(2)A marriage solemnized in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Act in a registered building which has not been certified as required by law as a place of religious worship shall be as valid as if the building had been so certified.

49 Void marriages.E+W

If any persons knowingly and wilfully intermarry under the provisions of this Part of this Act—

(a)without having given due notice of marriage to the superintendent registrar;

[F8(b)without a marriage schedule having been duly issued by the superintendent registrar of the registration district in which the marriage was solemnized;]

F9(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)on the authority of [F10a marriage schedule which is] void by virtue of subsection (2) of section thirty-three of this Act;

(e)in any place other than the church, chapel, registered building, office or other place specified in the [F11notices] of marriage and [F12(if so specified) in the marriage schedule];

[F13(ee)in the case of a marriage purporting to be in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of this Act, on any premises that at the time the marriage is solemnized are not approved premises;]

(f)in the case of a marrige in a registered building (not being a marriage in the presence of an authorised person), in the absence of a registrar of the registration district in which the registered building is situated; F14...

(g)in the case of a marriage in the office of a superintendent registrar, in the absence of the superintendent registrar or of a registrar of the registration district of that superinentdent registrar; F14[F15...

[F16(gg)in the case of a marriage on approved premises, in the absence of the superintendent registrar of the registration district in which the premises are situated or in the absence of a registrar of that district; or]

(h)in the case of a marriage to which section 45A of this Act applies, in the absence of any superintendent registrar or registrar whose presence at that marriage is required by that section;]

the marriage shall be void.

[F1749AVoid marriages: additional provision about same sex couplesE+W

(1)If a same sex couple knowingly and wilfully intermarries under the provisions of this Part of this Act in the absence of the required consent, the marriage shall be void.

(2)In this section, in relation to a marriage of a same sex couple, “required consent” means consent under—

(a)section 26A(3), in a case where section 26A applies to the marriage (but section 44A does not apply to it);

(b)section 26A(3) and section 44A(6), in a case where section 26A and section 44A apply to the marriage;

[F18(ba)section 26A(3) and under any regulations made under section 44C that require the consent to use of a building for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples, in a case where section 26A and section 44C apply to the marriage;]

(c)section 26B(2)(b), in a case where section 26B(1), (2) and (3) apply to the marriage;

(d)section 26B(4)(b), in a case where section 26B(1), (4) and (5) apply to the marriage;

(e)section 26B(6)(d), in a case where section 26B(1), (6) and (7) apply to the marriage.]

50 Person to whom [F19marriage schedule] to be delivered.E+W

[F20(A1)This section applies where the parties to a marriage have been issued a marriage schedule under section 31(4).]

(1)[F21The parties to the marriage must deliver the marriage schedule to the following person] :—

F22(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)if the marriage is to be solemnized in a registered building without the presence of a registrar, the authorised person in whose presence the marriage is to be solemnized;

F23(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F24(cc). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)if the marriage is to be solemnized according to the usages of the Society of Friends, [F25an] officer of that Society for the place where the marriage is to be solemnized;

(e)if the marriage is to be solemnized according to the usages of persons professing the Jewish religion, the officer of a synagogue by whom the marriage [F26schedule is required to be signed in accordance with section 53C];

(f)if the marriage is to be solemnized according to the rites of the Church of England, the officiating clergyman.

F27(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F28(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51[F29 Fees of superintendent registrars for attending marriages in approved premises]E+W

F30[F31(1)]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F32(1A)In the case of persons married on approved premises in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of this Act—

F33(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)the superintendent registrar in whose presence the persons are married shall be entitled to receive from them a fee of an amount determined in accordance with regulations under section 46A of this Act by the local authority that approved the premises.]

F34(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

52 Provision for marriages in Welsh language.E+W

The Registrar General shall furnish to every registrar in Wales and in every place in which the Welsh language is commonly used a true and exact translation into the Welsh language of the [F35declarations and forms of words] required to be used under section forty-four of this Act, and the said translation may be used in any place in which the Welsh language is commonly used in the same manner as is prescribed by the said section forty-four for the use of the [F35declarations and forms of words] in the English language.