Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977
No person domiciled in Scotland may marry before he attains the age of 16.
A marriage solemnised in Scotland between persons either of whom is under the age of 16 shall be void.
Subject to subsection (1A), a marriage between persons who are related to each other in a forbidden degree is void if solemnised—
in Scotland; or
at a time when either party is domiciled in Scotland.
For the purposes of this section a degree of relationship exists—
in the case of a degree specified in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act, whether it is of the full blood or the half blood; . . .
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For the purposes of subsection (1), a person is related to another person in a forbidden degree if related to that person in a degree specified in Schedule 1.
Where a person is related to another person in a degree not specified in Schedule 1 to this Act that degree of relationship shall not, in Scots law, bar a valid marriage between them; but this subsection is without prejudice to—
the effect which a degree of relationship not so specified may have under the provisions of a system of law other than Scots law in a case where such provisions apply as the law of the place of celebration of a marriage or as the law of a person’s domicile; or
any rule of law that a marriage may not be contracted between persons either of whom is married to a third person.
A person who is related to another person in a degree specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (relationships by affinity) is not related to that person in a forbidden degree if—
both parties have attained the age of 21 at the time of the marriage; and
the younger party has not at any time before attaining the age of 18 lived in the same household as the other party and been treated by the other party as a child of his family.
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For the purposes of paragraph 2 of Schedule 1, “spouse” means—
in the case of a marriage between persons of different sexes, a wife in relation to her husband or a husband in relation to his wife; and
in the case of a marriage between persons of the same sex, one of the parties to the marriage in relation to the other.
References in this section and in Schedule 1 to this Act to relationships and degrees of relationship shall be construed in accordance with section 1(1) of the Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986.
Where the parties to an intended marriage are related in a degree specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to this Act, either party may (whether or not an objection to the marriage has been submitted in accordance with section 5(1) of this Act) apply to the Court of Session for a declarator that the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1A) above are fulfilled in relation to the intended marriage.
Subsection (1A) above and paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to this Act have effect subject to the following modifications in the case of a party to a marriage whose gender has become the acquired gender under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (“the relevant person”).
Any reference in subsection (1C)(a) as it applies to paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to a ... wife or ... husband of the relevant person includes (respectively) any ... husband or ... wife of the relevant person.
This section and Schedule 1 to this Act have effect as if any reference in paragraphs 1 and 2 of that Schedule to a parent within any of the degrees of relationship specified ... included a woman who is a parent of a child by virtue of section 42 or 43 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22).
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Subject to subsections (2) to (4) below, each of the parties to a marriage intended to be solemnised in Scotland shall submit to the district registrar a notice, in the prescribed form, of intention to marry (in this Act referred to as a “marriage notice”) and the prescribed fee, his birth certificate and—
if he has previously been married and the marriage has been dissolved, a copy of the decree of divorce, dissolution or annulment;
if the person has previously been married and the marriage ended on the death of the other party to that marriage, the death certificate of that other party;
if he has previously been in civil partnership and the civil partnership has been dissolved, a copy of the decree of dissolution or annulment;
in any case where a certificate is required under subsection (5) below, that certificate.
if the person has previously been in a civil partnership which ended on the death of the other party to the civil partnership, the death certificate of that other party;
if the person is in a qualifying civil partnership within the meaning of section 5(6)(a)(i)(A) with the other party to the intended marriage, an extract from the entry in the civil partnership register relating to the civil partnership;
if the person is in a qualifying civil partnership within the meaning of section 5(6)(a)(i)(B) or (b) with the other party to the intended marriage—
information equivalent to an extract from an entry in the civil partnership register; and
such documentary evidence in support of that information, as the district registrar may require;
if the party falls within paragraph (ab)(i) of the definition of “relevant national” in section 26(2), an electronic certificate which confirms that the leave referred to in that provision has been granted;
if the party falls within paragraph (ab)(ii) of the definition of “relevant national” in section 26(2)—
a certificate of application which confirms that the application referred to in regulation 4 of the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 has been made; and
evidence that the relevant period referred to in regulation 4 of those Regulations has not expired;
where he is related to the other party in a degree specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to this Act, a declaration in the prescribed form stating—
the degree of relationship; and
that the younger party has not at any time before attaining the age of 18 lived in the same household as the other party and been treated by the other party as a child of his family.
If a party is unable to submit his birth certificate or any document referred to in paragraph (a) , (aa) , (b), (ba) , (bb) or (bc) of subsection (1) above, he may in lieu thereof make a declaration stating that for reasons specified in that declaration it is impracticable for him to submit that certificate or document; and he shall provide the district registrar with such— as the district registrar may require.
information in respect of the matters to which such certificate or document would have related; and
documentary evidence in support of that information,
If any document submitted under subsection (1) above is written in a language other than English, the party submitting it shall, unless subsection (3ZA) applies, also submit a translation of it in English certified by the translator as a correct translation.
Where a party to a marriage intended to be solemnised in Scotland is residing in another part of the United Kingdom, he may submit to the district registrar a valid certificate for marriage (in this Act referred to as an “approved certificate”) issued in that other part; and where that party so submits an approved certificate, he need not, unless the Registrar General so directs, comply with the other provisions of this section.
This subsection applies where—
the document submitted is accompanied by a multilingual standard form issued by an authority in a Member State of the European Union in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of the European Parliament and of the Council; and
the district registrar considers that the information included in the multilingual standard form is sufficient for processing the document.
A party to a marriage intended to be solemnised in Scotland who is not domiciled in any part of the United Kingdom is required, if practicable, to submit under subsection (1)(c) above a certificate, issued by a competent authority in the state in which the party is domiciled, to the effect that he is not known to be subject to any legal incapacity (in terms of the law of that state) which would prevent his marrying: Provided that such a party—
may, where under the law of the state in which he is domiciled his personal law is that of another foreign state, submit in lieu of the said certificate a like certificate issued by a competent authority in that other state;
need not submit a certificate under paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above
if he has been resident in the United Kingdom for a period of 2 or more years immediately before the date on which he submits a marriage notice under that subsection in respect of the said marriage or
if no such certificate has been issued only by reason of the fact that the validity of a divorce or annulment granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in Scotland or entitled to recognition in Scotland under section 44 or 45 of the Family Law Act 1986 is not recognised in the state in which the certificate would otherwise have been issued.; ...
if no such certificate has been issued only by reason of the fact that the parties to the intended marriage are of the same sex. ; or
if no such certificate has been issued only by reason of the fact that the law of the state in which the party is domiciled prevents the parties to a qualifying civil partnership within the meaning of section 5(6) from marrying.
A person submitting a notice under subsection (1) above shall make and attest in the prescribed manner the necessary declaration (the form for which shall be included in any form prescribed for the notice).
The necessary declaration is a declaration that the person submitting the notice believes that the parties to the marriage are eligible to be married to each other.
A district registrar to whom a notice under subsection (1) is submitted may require the person submitting the notice to provide the district registrar with specified nationality evidence relating to each of the parties to the marriage.
A requirement under subsection (4A) may be imposed at any time—
on or after the submitting of the notice under subsection (1); but
before the district registrar completes the Marriage Schedule.
In subsection (4A), “specified nationality evidence” means such evidence of that person's nationality as may be specified in guidance issued by the Registrar General.
In this section, “the district registrar” means—
where the marriage is to be solemnised in a registration district, the district registrar for that district;
where the marriage is to be solemnised in Scottish waters—
in the case where the marriage is to be solemnised by an approved celebrant, the district registrar for any registration district;
in the case where the marriage is to be solemnised by an authorised registrar, the district registrar for the registration district of the proposed authorised registrar.
On receipt of a marriage notice or an approved certificate in respect of a party to an intended marriage, the district registrar shall forthwith enter such particulars, extracted from such notice or certificate, as may be prescribed, together with the date of receipt by him of such notice or certificate, in a book (in this Act referred to as “the marriage notice book”) supplied to him for that purpose by the Registrar General.
The district registrar shall maintain a list of the intended marriages in respect of which he has received a marriage notice or an approved certificate (the “district list”).
Any person claiming that he may have reason to submit an objection to an intended marriage, or to the issue of a certificate under section 7 of this Act to a party to such marriage, may, free of charge and at any time when the registration office is open for public business, inspect any entry relating to the marriage in the marriage notice book.
Subject to subsection (2B) below, the district list shall be displayed in a conspicuous place at the registration office.
If the registration office comprises more than one set of premises, it shall be sufficient for the purpose of subsection (2A) above if the district registrar displays the list in a conspicuous place at the principal premises only.
The district registrar shall, as soon as practicable after he has received a marriage notice or an approved certificate in relation to an intended marriage—
make an entry in the district list containing the relevant particulars of the marriage; and
provide (in such form and by such means as the Registrar General thinks fit) the relevant particulars of the marriage to the Registrar General.
The Registrar General shall maintain a list of proposed marriages in Scotland (the “Scottish list”).
The Registrar General shall make the Scottish list available for public inspection (at such locations, by such means and in such forms as the Registrar General thinks fit).
The Registrar General shall, as soon as practicable after the relevant particulars of a marriage are provided to him under subsection (2C)(b) above, make an entry in the Scottish list containing those particulars.
An entry in a district list or the Scottish list shall remain in that list until the proposed date of the marriage to which it relates has elapsed.
For the purpose of this section, the relevant particulars of a marriage are such particulars, extracted from the marriage notice book, as may be prescribed.
In this section and sections 5 and 6 of this Act, “the district registrar” means—
where the marriage is to be solemnised in a registration district, the district registrar for that district;
where the marriage is to be solemnised in Scottish waters—
in the case where the marriage is to be solemnised by an approved celebrant, the district registrar to whom the marriage notices or approved certificates in respect of the marriage were submitted;
in the case where the marriage is to be solemnised by an authorised registrar, the district registrar for the registration district of the proposed authorised registrar.
This section is subject to section 3E.
Any person may at any time before the solemnisation of a marriage in Scotland submit an objection in writing thereto to the district registrar: Provided that where the objection is on the ground mentioned in subsection (4)(d) below, it shall not be treated as submitted until there has also been produced to the registrar a supporting certificate attested in the prescribed manner by a registered medical practitioner.
Where the district registrar receives an objection in accordance with subsection (1) above he shall—
in any case where he is satisfied that the objection relates to no more than a misdescription or inaccuracy in the marriage notice or approved certificate, notify the parties to the marriage of the nature of the objection and make such enquiries into the matter mentioned in it as he thinks fit; and thereafter he shall, subject to the approval of the Registrar General, make any necessary correction to any document relating to the marriage;
in any other case—
forthwith notify the Registrar General of the objection;
pending consideration of the objection by the Registrar General, suspend the completion or issue of the Marriage Schedule in respect of the marriage;
where, in the case of a marriage to be solemnised by an approved celebrant, the Marriage Schedule has already been issued to the parties, if possible notify that celebrant of the objection and advise him not to solemnise the marriage pending the said consideration.
For the purpose of subsection (1) above, an objection which is submitted to the registrar by electronic means is to be treated as in writing if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
Subject to subsection (3A) below, if the Registrar General is satisfied, on consideration of an objection of which he has received notification under subsection (2)(b)(i) above, that—
there is a legal impediment to the marriage, he shall direct the district registrar to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the marriage does not take place and shall notify, or direct the district registrar to notify, the parties to the intended marriage accordingly;
there is no legal impediment to the marriage, he shall inform the district registrar to that effect.
For the purposes of this section and section 6 of this Act, there is a legal impediment to a marriage where—
that marriage would be void by virtue of section 2(1) of this Act;
one of the parties is, or both are, already married or in civil partnership other than a qualifying civil partnership with each other ;
one or both of the parties will be under the age of 16 on the date of solemnisation of the intended marriage;
one or both of the parties is or are incapable of understanding the nature of a marriage ceremony or of consenting to marriage;
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one or both of the parties is, or are, not domiciled in Scotland and, on a ground other than— a marriage in Scotland between the parties would be void ab initio according to the law of the domicile of the party or parties as the case may be.
one mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) above; or
the ground that the parties are of the same sex,
A person who has submitted an objection in accordance with subsection (1) above may at any time withdraw it: Provided that the Registrar General shall be entitled to have regard to that objection notwithstanding such withdrawal.
Where— the Registrar General shall inform the district registrar that there is no legal impediment to the marriage on that ground.
an objection of which the Registrar General has received notification under subsection (2)(b)(i) above is on the ground that—
the parties are related in a degree specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to this Act; and
the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 2(1A) of this Act are not satisfied; and
an extract decree of declarator that those conditions are satisfied, granted on an application under section 2(5) of this Act, is produced to the Registrar General,
For the purposes of subsection (4)(b) a “qualifying civil partnership” is—
a civil partnership which—
was registered in— (A) Scotland, or (B) England and Wales or Northern Ireland; and
has not been dissolved, annulled or ended by death; or
a civil partnership which is treated under Chapter 2 of Part 5 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 as having formed by virtue of an overseas relationship being registered and has not been dissolved, annulled or ended by death.
A civil partnership which was registered outside the United Kingdom under an Order in Council made under Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (6)(a)(i)(A) as having been registered in Scotland if—
the parties to the civil partnership elected Scotland as the relevant part of the United Kingdom under the Order; and
details of the civil partnership have been sent to the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland.
A civil partnership which was registered outside the United Kingdom under an Order in Council made under Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (6)(a)(i)(B) as having been registered in England and Wales or, as the case may be, Northern Ireland if—
the parties to the civil partnership elected England and Wales or, as the case may be, Northern Ireland as the relevant part of the United Kingdom under the Order; and
details of the civil partnership have been sent to the Registrar General for England and Wales or, as the case may be, the Registrar General in Northern Ireland.
Where the district registrar has received a marriage notice or approved certificate in respect of each of the parties to a marriage intended to be solemnised in Scotland and is satisfied that there is no legal impediment to the marriage or, as the case may be, is informed by the Registrar General under section 5(3)(b) or (3A) of this Act that there is no such legal impediment, he shall, subject to subsection (2) below, complete a Marriage Schedule in the prescribed form.
If a period of more than 3 months has elapsed since the date of receipt (as entered by the district registrar in the marriage notice book) of a marriage notice or an approved certificate in respect of a party to the marriage, the Registrar General may direct that the district registrar shall not complete the Marriage Schedule unless that party submits a new marriage notice or approved certificate to the district registrar.
Regulations under subsection (1) prescribing the form of the Marriage Schedule may make different provision for different cases or circumstances.
Subject to subsection (4) below, in the case of a marriage to be solemnised by an approved celebrant, the Marriage Schedule completed in accordance with subsection (1) above shall be issued by the district registrar at the registration office to one or both of the parties to the intended marriage.
The district registrar shall not issue a Marriage Schedule under subsection (3) above—
within 28 days of the date of receipt (as entered by him in the marriage notice book) of a marriage notice in respect of the marriage to which the Marriage Schedule relates, except where—
He has received a written request from one or both of the parties for the issue of the Marriage Schedule on a specified date within the said 28 days stating the reason for the request; and
he has been authorised to issue the Marriage Schedule on that specified date by the Registrar General;
on a date earlier than 7 days before the date of the intended marriage unless he has been authorised to issue the Marriage Schedule on that earlier date by the Registrar General.
Subject to subsections (6) and (7) below and section 23A of this Act, a religious or belief marriage may be solemnised only on the date and at the place specified in the Marriage Schedule.
Subject to subsection (7) below, if, for any reason, the marriage cannot be solemnised on the date or at the place so specified and a new date or place is fixed for the marriage, the district registrar shall—
issue another Marriage Schedule under subsection (3) above, in lieu of that already issued, specifying that new date or place; or
substitute, or direct the approved celebrant to substitute, that new date or place in the Marriage Schedule already issued.
Unless subsection (4ZB) applies, if a proposed marriage is referred to the Secretary of State under section 3F (“the referred marriage”) the Registrar General may not authorise the district registrar to issue the Marriage Schedule on the date mentioned in subsection (4)(a)(ii) without the consent of the Secretary of State.
Subsection (6) above shall not apply in a case where the new date fixed for the marriage is more than 3 months after the date for the marriage as specified in the Marriage Schedule already issued or where the new place so fixed is in a different registration district , is in Scottish waters instead of a registration district or is in a registration district instead of Scottish waters , but in such a case the Registrar General may, according to the circumstances, direct—
the district registrar ... to proceed as in paragraph (a) or (b) (whichever the Registrar General considers the more appropriate) of subsection (6) above; or
each party to the marriage to submit to the said district registrar a new marriage notice or approved certificate.
This subsection applies if the request made under subsection (4)(a)(i) is made because a party to the referred marriage is gravely ill and not expected to recover.
For the purpose of subsection (4)(a)(i) above, a request which is made by electronic means is to be treated as being written if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
This section has effect subject to section 6A.
Where a person residing in Scotland is a party to a marriage intended to be solemnised in— a certificate in respect of his legal capacity to marry, he may submit, in the form and with the fee and documents specified in section 3(1) (a), (aa), (b) , (ba), (bb) and (d)of this Act, notice of intention to marry to the district registrar for the district in which he resides (the said registrar being in this section referred to as the “appropriate registrar”) as if it were intended that the marriage should be solemnised in that district, and sections 3(2) , (3), (3ZA) and (4A) to (4C) and 4 of this Act shall apply accordingly.
England or Wales with a party residing in England or Wales and desires; or
any country, territory or place outside Great Britain, and, for the purpose of complying with the law in force in that country, territory or place, is required to obtain from a competent authority in Scotland,
The appropriate registrar shall, if satisfied (after consultation, if the appropriate registrar considers it necessary, with the Registrar General) that a person who has by virtue of subsection (1) above submitted a marriage notice to him is not subject to any legal incapacity (in terms of Scots law) which would prevent his marrying, issue to that person a certificate in the prescribed form that he is not known to be subject to any such incapacity: Provided that the certificate shall not be issued earlier than 28 days after the date of receipt (as entered by the appropriate registrar in the marriage notice book) of the marriage notice.
Any person may, at any time before a certificate is issued under subsection (2) above, submit to the appropriate registrar an objection in writing to such issue; and the objection shall be taken into account by the appropriate registrar in deciding whether, in respect of the person to whom the certificate would be issued, he is satisfied as mentioned in the said subsection (2).
For the purpose of subsection (3) above, an objection which is submitted by electronic means is to be treated as in writing if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
This section applies to a marriage notice submitted to a district registrar in accordance with section 3 if one, or each, of the parties to the proposed marriage is not a relevant national.
But this section does not apply if the parties are in a qualifying civil partnership (within the meaning of section 5(6)) with each other.
For each party to the proposed marriage who is not a relevant national, the notice shall be accompanied by whichever of statements A, B or C is applicable to that person.
Statement A is a statement that the person has the appropriate immigration status.
Statement B is a statement that the person holds a relevant visa in respect of the proposed marriage.
Statement C is a statement that the person neither—
has the appropriate immigration status, nor
holds a relevant visa in respect of the proposed marriage.
If the notice is accompanied by the statement referred to in the first column of an entry in this table, the notice shall also be accompanied by the information and photographs referred to in the second column of that entry (insofar as that entry is applicable to the parties to the proposed marriage)— If the notice is accompanied by this statement..... ...the notice shall also be accompanied by... Statement A (in respect of one or both of the parties to the proposed marriage) For each party in respect of whom statement A is made, details of the particular immigration status which that party has Statement B (in respect of one or both of the parties to the proposed marriage) 1. For each party, a specified photograph of that party 2. For each party in respect of whom statement B is made, details of the relevant visa which that party has Statement C (in respect of one or both of the parties to the proposed marriage) 1. For each party, a specified photograph of that party 2. For each party, the usual address of that party 3. For each party who has previously used any name or names other than the person’s name stated in the marriage notice, a statement of the other name or names 4. For each party who currently uses, or has previously used, an alias or aliases, a statement of the alias or aliases
If the notice is accompanied by more than one of statements A, B and C, subsection (7) shall be complied with in relation to each of those statements; but where the notice is accompanied by statements B and C, subsection (7) does not require the notice to be accompanied by more than one specified photograph of each party.
If the notice is accompanied by statement C for a party to the proposed marriage—
the notice may also be accompanied by a statement (“statement D”) of that person’s immigration position in the United Kingdom;
if the notice is accompanied by statement D for a party to the proposed marriage, the person may provide the district registrar with details of his immigration position in the United Kingdom; and
if any such details are provided, the district registrar shall record them.
In this section and section 3B—
a reference— is to be construed in accordance with section 49 of the 2014 Act;
to a person having the appropriate immigration status, or
to a person holding a relevant visa,
a reference to the particular immigration status which a person has is a reference to the immigration status set out in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 49(2) of that Act which the person has;
a reference to a person’s immigration position in the United Kingdom includes a reference to the person’s not being entitled to be in the United Kingdom.
In this section “specified photograph” means a photograph that is in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 54(2) of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to, the 2014 Act (and for this purpose “photograph” includes other kinds of images).
If a marriage notice to which section 3A(1) applies (“the notice”) is accompanied by statement A (referred to in section 3A(4)) and accordingly is also accompanied by details of the particular immigration status which a party to the proposed marriage has, the notice shall also be accompanied by specified evidence of that status.
If the notice is accompanied by statement B (referred to in section 3A(5)), the notice shall also be accompanied by specified evidence of the holding of the relevant visa by the party to the proposed marriage.
If, in accordance with section 3A(7), the notice is accompanied by the usual address of a party to the proposed marriage, the notice shall also be accompanied by specified evidence that it is that party’s usual address.
If the notice is accompanied by statement D (referred to in section 3A(9)), the notice may also be accompanied by evidence of the person’s immigration position in the United Kingdom.
If subsection (1) or (2) applies to the notice, and the notice is not accompanied by the specified evidence required by that subsection, the notice shall be accompanied by—
photographs and addresses of the kinds referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 in the relevant entry in section 3A(7);
as respects the usual address of each party that is provided in accordance with paragraph (a), specified evidence that the address provided is that party’s usual address; and
names and aliases of the kinds referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 in the relevant entry in section 3A(7) (insofar as those paragraphs are applicable to the parties to the proposed marriage).
In this section—
“relevant entry in section 3A(7)” means the second column of the last entry in the table in section 3A(7);
“specified evidence” means evidence that is in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 54(2) of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to, the 2014 Act.
Where the marriage notice is accompanied by— that information and evidence shall also be accompanied by a declaration in writing and signed by the party who makes it that the party believes all of the information and evidence accompanying the notice to be true.
information provided in accordance with section 3A, and
information and evidence provided in accordance with section 3B,
A district registrar may reject— if (in particular) the district registrar has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the information, photograph or evidence is false.
any evidence relating to a party’s nationality provided in accordance with section 3(4A),
any information or photograph provided under section 3A or 3B, or
any evidence provided under section 3B,
If the district registrar rejects any information, photograph or evidence, the district registrar may proceed under this Act as if the rejected information, photograph or evidence had not been provided.
This section does not limit the powers of district registrars to reject anything provided under any other enactment.
In this section “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in, or an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
Where any of the requirements mentioned in subsection (2) is applicable but not complied with by either or both parties to the proposed marriage, the parties are to be taken not to have submitted a marriage notice under section 3.
The requirements are—
a requirement imposed by or under any of the following provisions of this Act—
section 3(4A);
section 3A(3) to (8);
section 3B(3);
section 3B(5);
the requirement imposed by section 21(2) of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004.
On every occasion when a marriage notice is submitted under section 3, a district registrar shall decide whether or not each of the parties to the proposed marriage is an exempt person.
But this section does not apply if the parties are in a qualifying civil partnership (within the meaning of section 5(6)) with each other.
In making a decision under subsection (1) about a party to a proposed marriage, a district registrar may rely on any advice given in relation to that decision by the Secretary of State.
In a case where— the district registrar shall decide that that party to the proposed marriage is not an exempt person.
section 3A applies to the marriage notice, and
specified evidence required by section 3B(1) or (2) in relation to a party to the proposed marriage is not produced in accordance with that section,
If the district registrar decides that either of the parties is not an exempt person, or that both of the parties are not exempt persons, the district registrar shall—
refer the proposed marriage to the Secretary of State;
notify the parties to the proposed marriage that the proposed marriage must be referred to the Secretary of State;
give the parties to the proposed marriage prescribed information about—
the effects of the referral;
the requirement under regulations to notify the Secretary of State of changes of address.
The district registrar shall act in accordance with regulations when complying with the duty in subsection (5)(a) to refer a proposed marriage to the Secretary of State.
If the district registrar refers the proposed marriage to the Secretary of State, this Act has effect in relation to the proposed marriage subject to the modifications in Schedule 1A.
In this section—
a reference to a person being an exempt person has the same meaning as in section 49 of the 2014 Act;
“prescribed information” means information prescribed in regulations;
“regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 54(2) of, and Schedule 5 to, the 2014 Act.
A district registrar may refuse to complete a Marriage Schedule under section 6 in a case where—
a marriage notice has been submitted under section 3(1), and
the district registrar has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a relevant decision was made incorrectly because of the provision of false information or evidence in or accompanying that notice.
If the district registrar refuses to complete a Marriage Schedule under subsection (1), the parties to the proposed marriage are to be taken not to have submitted a marriage notice under section 3; but that does not prevent criminal proceedings from being brought against either party, or any other person, in relation to the submission of notice.
This section is without prejudice to any other powers of district registrars to refuse to complete a Marriage Schedule.
In this section—
Subject to section 23A of this Act, a marriage between persons of different sexes may be solemnised by and only by—
a person who is—
a minister or deacon of the Church of Scotland; or
a minister, clergyman, pastor, priest or other celebrant of a religious or belief body prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State, or who, not being one of the foregoing, is recognised by a religious or belief body so prescribed as entitled to solemnise marriage between persons of different sexes on its behalf; or
registered under section 9 of this Act to solemnise marriage between persons of different sexes; or
temporarily authorised under section 12 of this Act to solemnise marriage between persons of different sexes; or
a person who is a district registrar or assistant registrar appointed under section 17 of this Act.
In this Act—
any such person as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (1B)(a) above is referred to as an “approved celebrant”, and a marriage solemnised by an approved celebrant is referred to as a “religious or belief marriage” ;
any such person as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or (1B)(b) above is referred to as an “authorised registrar”, and a marriage solemnised by an authorised registrar is referred to as a “civil marriage”.
The Scottish Ministers may prescribe a religious or belief body under subsection (1)(a)(ii) only if—
the body requests them to do so; and
the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the body meets the qualifying requirements.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in subsection (1)(a)—
imposes a duty on any person who is an approved celebrant in relation to marriage between persons of different sexes to solemnise a marriage between civil partners in a qualifying civil partnership (within the meaning of section 5(6)),
imposes a duty on any person to apply for temporary authorisation under section 12 to solemnise such a marriage.
Subject to section 23A, a marriage between persons of the same sex may be solemnised by and only by—
a person who is—
a minister, clergyman, pastor, priest or other celebrant of a religious or belief body prescribed by regulations made by the Scottish Ministers, or who, not being one of the foregoing, is recognised by a religious or belief body so prescribed as entitled to solemnise marriage between persons of the same sex on its behalf;
registered under section 9 to solemnise marriage between persons of the same sex; or
temporarily authorised under section 12 to solemnise marriage between persons of the same sex; or
a person who is a district registrar or assistant registrar appointed under section 17.
The Scottish Ministers may prescribe a religious or belief body under subsection (1B)(a)(i) only if—
the body requests them to do so; and
the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the body meets the qualifying requirements.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in subsection (1B)(a) or (1C)(a)—
imposes a duty on any religious or belief body to make a request referred to in subsection (1C)(a);
imposes a duty on any such body to nominate under section 9 any of its members to be registered as empowered to solemnise marriages between persons of the same sex;
imposes a duty on any person to apply for temporary authorisation under section 12 to solemnise marriages between persons of the same sex;
imposes a duty on any person who is an approved celebrant in relation to marriages between persons of the same sex to solemnise such marriages.
In subsections (1A)(b) and (1C)(b), the “qualifying requirements” are such requirements as may be set out in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers.
Regulations under subsection (1E)—
may make different provision for different cases or circumstances;
may include transitional and saving provision.
Regulations under subsection (1)(a)(ii), (1B)(a)(i) or (1E) are subject to the negative procedure.
A religious or belief body , not being— may nominate to the Registrar General any of its members who it desires should be registered under this section as empowered to solemnise marriages between persons of different sexes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the Church of Scotland; or
prescribed by virtue of section 8(1)(a)(ii) of this Act,
The Registrar General shall reject a nomination made under subsection (1) or (1A) above if in his opinion—
the nominating body is not a religious or belief body ; or
the marriage ceremony used by that body is not of an appropriate form; or
the nominee is not a fit and proper person to solemnise a marriage; or
there are already registered under this section sufficient members of the same ... body as the nominee to meet the needs of that body in relation to solemnising marriages between persons of different sexes or, as the case may be, marriages between persons of the same sex .
A religious or belief body, not being prescribed by virtue of section 8(1B)(a)(i), may nominate to the Registrar General any of its members who it desires should be registered under this section as empowered to solemnise marriages between persons of the same sex.
For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above, a marriage ceremony for marriage between persons of different sexes is of an appropriate form if it includes, and is in no way inconsistent with— and the Registrar General may, before deciding whether to accept or reject a nomination, require the nominating body to produce to him in writing the form of words used at its marriage ceremonies for marriage between persons of different sexes.
a declaration by the parties, in the presence of each other, the celebrant and two witnesses—
that they accept each other as husband and wife;
that they accept each other in marriage; or
either or both of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii); and
a declaration by the celebrant, after the declaration mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection—
that the parties are then husband and wife;
that the parties are then married; or
either or both of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii),
Where the Registrar General accepts a nomination made to him under subsection (1) or (1A) above, he— and may make his acceptance subject to such other conditions as he thinks fit: Provided that nothing in paragraph (a) above shall preclude the Registrar General from accepting a further nomination of that nominee, in accordance with this section, to take effect at any time after the end of the period determined by the Registrar General under the said paragraph (a).
shall determine the period during which the nominee shall be empowered to solemnise marriages, being a period of not more than 3 years; and
may determine that the nominee shall be empowered to solemnise marriages only in such area or place as the Registrar General may specify,
In subsection (2)(e), the “qualifying requirements” are such requirements as may be set out in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers.
The Registrar General shall—
where he accepts a nomination made to him under subsection (1) or (1A) above—
so inform the nominee and the nominating body, specifying the period during which the acceptance shall have effect and any condition to which the acceptance is subject;
enter the name of the nominee, the nominating body and such other particulars as he deems appropriate in a register which he shall establish and maintain and which shall be made available for public inspection at all reasonable times without charge;
where he rejects the nomination, by notice in writing inform the nominating body of the reasons for that rejection.
Regulations under subsection (2A)—
may make different provision for different cases or circumstances;
may include transitional and saving provision.
The nominating body may, if aggrieved by a rejection under this section, within 28 days of receiving notice of that rejection, appeal to the Secretary of State, and on any such appeal the Secretary of State may direct the Registrar General to accept the nomination or may confirm its rejection and shall inform the nominating body of his direction or confirmation, as the case may be, and the reason for it; and such direction or confirmation shall be final: Provided that if a reason given for a confirmation of the rejection of a nomination is that the nominating body is not a religious or belief body , that body may, within 42 days of receiving notice of the confirmation, appeal against the confirmation to the Court of Session and seek the determination of that court as to whether the body is a religious or belief body ; and if—
the court determine that the nominating body is a religious or belief body ; and
the said reason was the only reason given for the confirmation,that determination shall be given effect to by the Registrar General as if it were a direction under this subsection to accept the nomination.
Regulations under subsection (2A) are subject to the negative procedure.
For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above, a marriage ceremony for marriage between persons of the same sex is of an appropriate form if it includes, and is in no way inconsistent with— and the Registrar General may, before deciding whether to accept or reject a nomination, require the nominating body to produce in writing the form of words used at its marriage ceremonies for marriage between persons of the same sex.
a declaration by the parties, in the presence of each other, the celebrant and two witnesses, that they accept each other in marriage;
a declaration by the celebrant, after the declaration mentioned in paragraph (a), that the parties are then married,
The register mentioned in subsection (5)(a)(ii) is to be in two parts—
the first part containing the details mentioned in subsection (5)(a)(ii) in relation to persons nominated by religious or belief bodies to solemnise marriages between persons of different sexes; and
the second part containing those details in relation to persons nominated by religious or belief bodies to solemnise marriages between persons of the same sex.
For the purpose of subsection (5)(b) above, notice which is given by electronic means is to be treated as in writing if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
Subject to the provisions of this section, the Registrar General may remove the name of a person registered under section 9 of this Act from the register on the ground that—
that person has requested that his name should be so removed; or
the body which nominated that person under section 9(1) or (1A) of this Act no longer desires that he should be so registered; or
the marriage ceremony used by the said body is no longer of an appropriate form within the meaning of section 9(3) or (3A) of this Act; or
that person—
has, while registered as an approved celebrant, been convicted of an offence under this Act; or
has, for the purpose of profit or gain, been carrying on a business of solemnising marriages; or
is not a fit and proper person to solemnise marriages; or
for any other reason, should not be so registered.
The Registrar General shall not remove the name of a person from the register on any ground mentioned in subsection (1)(d) above unless he has given to that person at least 21 days notice in writing of his intention to do so.
In relation to any ground mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (c), references in this section to removal from and restoration to the register include removal from and restoration to the appropriate part of the register.
The Registrar General shall—
in the notice given under subsection (2) above, specify the ground of removal and call upon the said person to show cause, within the period specified in the notice, why his name should not be removed from the register; and
consider any representations made to him within the said period by that person.
Where a person’s name has been removed from the register on any of the grounds mentioned in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) above, that person or the body which nominated him under section 9(1) or (1A) of this Act may, if aggrieved by the removal, within 28 days of receiving notice of the removal appeal to the Secretary of State, and on any such appeal the Secretary of State may give such direction as he thinks proper to the Registrar General as to the removal from, or restoration to, the register of that name; and such direction shall be final.
For the purpose of subsection (2) above, notice which is given by electronic means is to be treated as in writing if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
Where a person has received a notice in pursuance of subsection (2) above, he shall not solemnise a marriage unless and until his name is restored to the register or, as the case may be, the Registrar General has decided not to remove his name from the register.
A body registered in pursuance of section 9(5)(a)(ii) of this Act shall notify the Registrar General of any of the following events (if practicable, within 21 days of its occurrence)— and the Registrar General shall, on receipt of any such notification, make whatever alteration to the register maintained by him under section 9 of this Act as he considers necessary or desirable.
any change in the name or the address of the body or any amalgamation with any other religious or belief body , giving the name and address of any approved celebrant who is a member of the body so registered;
the death of an approved celebrant who is a member of the body so registered;
any change of name, address or designation of an approved celebrant who is a member of the body so registered;
the cessation of an approved celebrant who is a member of the body so registered from exercising the functions of an approved celebrant, giving his name and address;
a marriage or marriages specified in the authorisation; or
marriages during such period as shall be specified in the authorisation:
A marriage shall not be solemnised by an approved celebrant unless—
the parties produce to him before the marriage ceremony a Marriage Schedule, in respect of the marriage, issued in accordance with this Act;
both parties to the marriage are present; and
two persons professing to be 16 years of age or over are present as witnesses.
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For the avoidance of doubt, a marriage solemnised by an approved celebrant shall not be void merely because the Marriage Schedule specified a different date or place from the date on which, or the place at which, the marriage was solemnised.
An approved celebrant who is a person specified—
in section 8(1)(a)(i) or (ii) or (1B)(a)(i) of this Act shall not solemnise a marriage except in accordance with a form of ceremony recognised by the religious or belief body to which he belongs as sufficient for the solemnisation of marriages;
in section 8(1)(a)(iii) or (iv) or (1B)(a)(ii) or (iii) of this Act shall not solemnise a marriage except in accordance with a form of ceremony which includes and is in no way inconsistent with the declarations specified in section 9(3) or (3A) of this Act.
Immediately after the solemnisation of the marriage the Marriage Schedule shall be signed by the parties contracting the marriage, by both witnesses present thereat and by the approved celebrant.
The parties to the marriage shall, within 3 days thereafter, deliver the Marriage Schedule, or send it by post or arrange that it is delivered, to the district registrar.
As soon as possible after receipt of the Marriage Schedule, the district registrar shall cause the particulars as set forth in that Schedule to be entered in the register of marriages kept by him; and subject to subsection (4) below, he shall not register a religious or belief marriage unless and until he receives a duly signed Marriage Schedule in respect of that marriage.
Where the Registrar General is satisfied that a marriage has been properly solemnised and that the Marriage Schedule in respect of the marriage has been duly signed but has been lost or destroyed, he may direct the district registrar to complete an exact copy of the original Marriage Schedule and, so far as practicable, to arrange for its signature by those persons who signed the original Schedule; and as soon as possible thereafter, the district registrar shall cause the particulars as set forth in that copy to be entered in the register of marriages kept by him.
In this section and section 16 of this Act, “the district registrar” means—
where the marriage has been solemnised in a registration district, the district registrar for that district;
where the marriage has been solemnised in Scottish waters, the district registrar who issued the Marriage Schedule in respect of the marriage.
Where after the expiration of 21 days from the date of marriage as entered in the Marriage Schedule that Schedule has not been delivered to the district registrar, he may serve a notice in the prescribed form on either of the parties to the marriage requiring that party within 8 days from the date of service of the notice to deliver the said Schedule, or send it by post, to the district registrar.
If any party on whom a notice has been served in pursuance of subsection (1) above fails to comply with the notice, the district registrar may serve on that party a second notice in the prescribed form requiring that party to attend personally at the registration office of the district registrar, within 8 days from the date of service of the second notice, for the purpose of delivering the Marriage Schedule to the district registrar to enable him to register the marriage.
For the purpose of affording reasonable facilities for the solemnisation of civil marriages throughout Scotland, the Registrar General— as persons who may solemnise marriages: ...
shall appoint such number of district registrars as he thinks necessary; and
may, in respect of any district for which he has appointed a district registrar under paragraph (a) above, appoint one or more assistant registrars,
Subject to the provisions of this section, an authorised registrar shall solemnise a civil marriage
in his registration office ; ...
at an appropriate place in the registration district of the authorised registrar; or
with the approval of the Registrar General, at—
the registration office of another authorised registrar;
an appropriate place in the registration district of another authorised registrar; or
an appropriate place in Scottish waters.
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In this section—
“marriage” means marriage between persons of different sexes and marriage between persons of the same sex;
“annulment”includes any decree or declarator of nullity of marriage, however expressed.
a British citizen,
where the place is in Scottish waters, the local registration authority for the authorised registrar's registration district;
an Irish citizen, or
a person who is not an Irish citizen and who— has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom which was granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules within the meaning given by section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, or is an applicant for the purposes of regulation 4 of the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection)(EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (applications which have not been finally determined by the deadline) where the relevant period within the meaning of that regulation has not expired;
being an authorised registrar, solemnises a marriage in a place otherwise than in accordance with section 18(1) of this Act
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at any place in his registration district other than his registration office; or
with the approval of the Registrar General, at any place in any registration district in respect of which there is no authorised registrar.
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application has been made to him by either of the parties to the intended marriage requesting him to solemnise the marriage at such a place and stating the reason why one of the parties is unable to attend a registration office; and
subject to subsection (5) below, he is satisfied on consideration of the application that the party is unable to attend a registration office by reason of serious illness or serious bodily injury and that there is good reason why the marriage cannot be delayed until the party is able to attend a registration office.
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An authorised registrar shall not solemnise a marriage within 28 days of the date of receipt (as entered in the marriage notice book) of a marriage notice in respect of that marriage, unless—
he has received a written request from one or both of the parties to solemnise the marriage on a specified earlier date stating the reason for the request, and
he has been authorised to solemnise the marriage on that earlier date by the Registrar General.
A marriage shall not be solemnised by an authorised registrar unless—
he has available to him at the time of the ceremony a Marriage Schedule, in respect of the marriage, completed in accordance with this Act and the prescribed fee for the marriage has been paid;
both parties to the marriage are present; and
two persons professing to be 16 years of age or over are present as witnesses.
Unless subsection (1ZB) applies, if a proposed marriage is referred to the Secretary of State under section 3F (“the referred marriage”) the Registrar General may not authorise an authorised registrar to solemnise the referred marriage on the date mentioned in subsection (1)(b) without the consent of the Secretary of State.
Immediately after the solemnisation of the marriage the Marriage Schedule shall be signed by the parties contracting the marriage, by both witnesses present thereat and by the authorised registrar who solemnised it.
This subsection applies if the request made under subsection (1)(a) is made because a party to the referred marriage is gravely ill and not expected to recover.
As soon as possible after the Marriage Schedule has been signed in accordance with subsection (3) above— shall cause the particulars as set forth in that Schedule to be entered in the register of marriages kept by him.
in a case where the marriage has been solemnised by the authorised registrar— that authorised registrar;”
in his registration office;
at an appropriate place (within the meaning given by section 18) in the registration district of the authorised registrar; or
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at an appropriate place (within the meaning given by section 18) in Scottish waters,
in a case where the marriage has been solemnised by the authorised registrar— that other authorised registrar,
in the registration office of another authorised registrar; or
at an appropriate place (within the meaning given by section 18) in the district of another authorised registrar,
For the purpose of subsection (1) above, a request which is made by electronic means is to be treated as written if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
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Where two persons have gone through a marriage ceremony with each other outside the United Kingdom, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, but they are not, or are unable to prove that they are, validly married to each other in Scots law, an authorised registrar, on an application made to him by those persons, may, subject to the approval of the Registrar General and to subsection (2) below, solemnise their marriage as if they had not already gone through a marriage ceremony with each other.
Sections 3 to 6 and 18 and 19 of this Act shall apply for the purpose of solemnising a marriage under this section except that—
there shall be submitted to the authorised registrar a statutory declaration by both parties—
stating that they have previously gone through a marriage ceremony with each other; and
specifying the date and place at which, and the circumstances in which, they went through that ceremony;
section 5(4)(b) of this Act shall not apply in respect of the parties already being married to each other;
the Marriage Schedule shall contain such modifications as the Registrar General may direct to indicate that the parties have previously gone through a marriage ceremony with each other; and
The ceremony of marriage between the parties mentioned in this Schedule was performed in pursuance of section 20 of the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977, following a statutory declaration by them that they had gone through a ceremony of marriage with each other on the day of ... , at Dated the day of ... , (Signature of authorised registrar)
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Where subsection (2) or (3) applies in relation to a marriage solemnised in Scotland, the marriage shall be void.
This subsection applies if at the time of the marriage ceremony a party to the marriage who was capable of consenting to the marriage purported to give consent but did so by reason only of duress or error.
This subsection applies if at the time of the marriage ceremony a party to the marriage was incapable of—
understanding the nature of marriage; and
consenting to the marriage.
If a party to a marriage purported to give consent to the marriage other than by reason only of duress or error, the marriage shall not be void by reason only of that party's having tacitly withheld consent to the marriage at the time when it was solemnised.
In this section “error” means—
error as to the nature of the ceremony; or
a mistaken belief held by a person (“A”) that the other party at the ceremony with whom A purported to enter into a marriage was the person whom A had agreed to marry.
Where decree of declarator establishing—
a marriage by cohabitation with habit and repute; or
a marriage contracted before 1st July 1940 by declarationde praesentior by promisesubsequente copula, has been granted in the Court of Session, the principal clerk of Session shall forthwith cause the decree, the names, designations and addresses of the parties, and the date, as determined by the Court, on which the marriage was constituted to be intimated to the Registrar General, and on receipt of such intimation the Registrar General shall cause the marriage to be registered.
Where the person by whom a marriage is to be solemnised under this Act considers that it is necessary or desirable, he may use the services of an interpreter (not being a party or a witness to the marriage) at the marriage ceremony.
The interpreter shall—
before the marriage ceremony, sign a written statement that he understands, and is able to converse in, any language in respect of which he is to act as interpreter at that ceremony; and
immediately after the marriage ceremony, furnish the person solemnising the marriage with a certificate written in English and signed by the interpreter that he has faithfully acted as interpreter at that ceremony.
Any fee for the services of the interpreter shall be paid by the parties to the marriage.
If a marriage in respect of which an entry has been made in a register of marriages is found or declared to be void, the Registrar General shall direct the cancellation of the entry.
falsifies or forges any Marriage Schedule, certificate or declaration issued or made, or purporting to be issued or made, under this Act;
knowingly uses, or gives or sends to any person as genuine, any false or forged Marriage Schedule, certificate, declaration or other document issued or made, or purporting to be issued or made, or required, under this Act;
being an approved celebrant, solemnises a marriage without a Marriage Schedule in respect of the marriage, issued in accordance with this Act, being available to him at the time of the marriage ceremony;
not being an approved celebrant or an authorised registrar, conducts a marriage ceremony in such a way as to lead the parties to the marriage to believe that he is solemnising a valid marriage; . . .
being an approved celebrant or an authorised registrar, solemnises a marriage without both parties to the marriage being present; or
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both;
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £100 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
A person (“A”) commits an offence if A purports to enter into a marriage with another person (“B”) knowing that either or both—
A is already married to or in a civil partnership with a person other than B, or
B is already married to or in a civil partnership with a person other than A.
Any person who— shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
solemnises a marriage in an area or place in which by virtue of section 9(4)(b) of this Act he is not permitted to solemnise a marriage;
solemnises a marriage in contravention of section 10(5) of this Act;
being a person temporarily authorised under section 12 of this Act—
if authorised under subsection (1)(a) of that section, solemnises a marriage not specified in the authorisation;
if authorised under subsection (1)(b) of that section, solemnises a marriage outwith the period specified in the authorisation;
in either case, solemnises a marriage otherwise than in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified in the authorisation;
solemnises a marriage in contravention of section 14 of this Act; or
being a party to a marriage, fails to comply with a notice served under section 16(2) of this Act,
A person who commits an offence under subsection (A1) is liable—
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine (or both),
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both).
Summary proceedings for an offence under this Act or, in relation to information supplied under or for the purposes of this Act, section 53(1)(a) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965, may be commenced at any time within the period of 3 months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Lord Advocate to justify the proceedings comes to his knowledge or within the period of 12 months from the commission of the offence, whichever period last expires; and subsection (3) of section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (time limit for certain offences) shall have effect for the purposes of this section as it has effect for the purposes of that section.
Any power to make regulations conferred by this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument and no such regulations shall be made by the Registrar General except with the approval of the Secretary of State.
Any statutory instrument containing regulations which prescribe fees for the purposes of this Act shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
The Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to a statutory instrument containing regulations made for the purposes of this Act by the Registrar General as if the regulations had been made by a Minister of the Crown.
Except where the context otherwise requires and subject to subsections (2) and (2A) below, expressions used in this Act and in the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 have the same meanings in this Act as in that Act.
In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—
“2014 Act” means the Immigration Act 2014;
The Registrar General may grant an authorisation to a person under subsection (1) only if satisfied that the religious or belief body of which the person is a member meets the qualifying requirements.
An authorisation under subsection (1)(b) may be granted in relation to—
only marriages between persons of different sexes;
only marriages between persons of the same sex; or
both.
The Registrar General may grant an authorisation to a person under subsection (1)(b) to solemnise marriages between persons of the same sex only if the religious or belief body of which the person is a member—
is prescribed by virtue of section 8(1B)(a)(i); or
has nominated members (whether or not including that person) under section 9(1A) to solemnise marriages between persons of the same sex.
In subsection (1A), the “qualifying requirements” are such requirements as may be set out in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers.
Regulations under subsection (1D)—
may make different provision for different cases or circumstances;
may include transitional and saving provision.
Regulations under subsection (1D) are subject to the negative procedure.
For the purpose of subsection (1) above, an authorisation which is issued by electronic means is to be treated as written if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.
“evidence” includes a photograph or other image;
" district registrar " means the registrar for the registration district in which the marriage is to be or has been solemnised;
“exempt person” has the same meaning as in section 3F;
“authorised registrar” has the meaning assigned to it by section 8(2)(b) of this Act;
“religious or belief marriage” has the meaning given by section 8(2)(a);
The Registrar General may, in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified in the authorisation, grant to any member of a religious or belief body a temporary written authorisation to solemnise—
have been so used and have not subsequently been used solely or mainly for other purposes.
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both;
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
Except where the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any other enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.
For the purposes of this Act—
the seaward boundary of a registration district which extends into the sea shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, be the low water mark of the ordinary spring tide;
a vessel which is below the low water mark of the ordinary spring tide is to be regarded as a place within a registration district if the vessel is—
positioned adjacent to land which is within the district;
affixed to the land for the purpose of maintaining its position; and
so positioned for the purpose of enabling access to and from the land;
a jetty or similar structure which is partly above the low water mark of the ordinary spring tide and partly below that mark is to be regarded as being wholly above that mark.
Where, before the commencement of this Act— an intended marriage in accordance with an enactment repealed by this Act, then the marriage shall proceed in accordance with the enactments repealed by this Act as if they had not been so repealed: Provided that this subsection shall cease to have effect in respect of the marriage if— a certificate of proclamation of banns or publication of notice issued in respect of the said application; or the said licence,ceases to be valid in accordance with any enactment so repealed.
“relevant decision” means a decision of a district registrar that a party to the proposed marriage is an exempt person.
proclamation of banns or publication of notice has been applied for by one or both of the parties to; or
a licence has been granted by a sheriff in respect of,
Provided that this subsection shall cease to have effect in respect of the marriage if— ceases to be valid in accordance with any enactment so repealed.
a certificate of proclamation of banns or publication of notice issued in respect of the said application; or
the said licence,
Any form used, and any requirement as to the particulars to be entered in any form used, for the purposes of any enactment repealed by this Act shall continue in force as though prescribed under this Act until other forms or particulars are so prescribed.
Nothing in this Act shall affect the validity of any marriage solemnised or contracted before 1st January 1978.
Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be taken as prejudicing the operation of section 38 of the Interpretation Act 1889 (which relates to the effect of repeals).
The enactments set out in Schedule 2 to this act shall have effect subject to the amendments respectively specified in that Schedule, being amendments consequential on the provisions of this Act.
The enactments set out in Schedule 3 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in coloumn 3 of that Schedule.
This Act may be cited as the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.
This Act, except this section, shall come into force on 1st January 1978.
This Act, except this section and, in so far as relating to the Marriage with Foreigners Act 1906, the Marriage Act 1939, the Marriage Act 1949 and the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1956, section 28, shall extend to Scotland only.
Subject to sections 1 and 2 of and without prejudice to section 24(1) of this Act, where the particulars of any marriage at the ceremony in respect of which both parties were present are entered in a register of marriages by or at the behest of an appropriate registrar, the validity of that marriage shall not be questioned, in any legal proceedings whatsoever, on the ground of failure to comply with a requirement or restriction imposed by, under or by virtue of this Act.
In subsection (1) above, “appropriate registrar”means—
in any other case, a district registrar.
Regulations prescribing the form of a document may, unless the document requires to be signed, make provision for the document to be electronic rather than paper-based.
Regulations prescribing the manner in which a document requires to be attested may make different provision for different cases or circumstances.
(introduced by section 2) Relationships by consanguinity Parent Child Grandparent Grandchild Sibling Aunt or uncle Niece or nephew Great-grandparent Great-grandchild Relationships by affinity referred to in section 2(1A) Child of former spouse Child of former civil partner Former spouse of parent Former civil partner of parent Former spouse of grandparent Former civil partner of grandparent Grandchild of former spouse Grandchild of former civil partner Relationships by adoption Adoptive parent or former adoptive parent Adopted child or former adopted child.
Section 28(1).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In section 1(1) (British subject giving notice of intended foreign marriage), for the words “the United Kingdom”, there shall be substituted the words “any part of the United Kingdom other than Scotland”.
In section 2(1) (provision for regulations in relation to foreigners intending to marry in Britain), for the words “the United Kingdom”, in both places where they occur, there shall be substituted the words “any part of the United Kingdom other than Scotland”.
In section 37(1) (one party resident in Scotland)—
for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted the following paragraph— ;
a certificate issued under section 7(2) of the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 to a party shall, for the purpose of that party’s intended marriage, have the like force and effect in all respects as a certificate for marriage issued by a superintendent registrar under this Part of this Act ;
In section 1 (notice of marriage intended to be solemnised in Scotland)—
for subsections (1) and (2) there shall be substituted the following subsections— ;
in subsection (3), for the words “last preceding subsection” there shall be substituted the words “foregoing provisions of this section”.
In section 11 (general provision as to fees)—
after the word “Act” where it first occurs there shall be inserted the words “or the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977” ;
for the words “this Act” where they occur for the second time there shall be substituted the words “or under this Act or the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977”.
In section 12 (fees to be accounted for), at the end there shall be added the words “and the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.”.
In section 32(1) (provision of registers etc. by Registrar General), at the end there shall be added the words “and the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.”.
In section 52 (sending of documents by post), after the word “Act” there shall be inserted the words “or the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.”.
Section 28(2).
section 3F(7)
These are the modifications subject to which this Act has effect if the district registrar refers a proposed marriage to the Secretary of State. In this Schedule “referred marriage” means the proposed marriage referred to the Secretary of State.
The duty under section 6(1) to complete a Marriage Schedule in respect of the referred marriage does not apply unless and until one of the following events occurs. Event 1 occurs if— Event 2 occurs if— Event 3 occurs if— Event 4 occurs if— Event 5 occurs if the Secretary of State gives the district registrar notice that the duty under section 6(1) is applicable. The Secretary of State may give a notice for that purpose only if— This paragraph applies in addition to any other requirements applicable to the completion of the Marriage Schedule. This paragraph is subject to paragraph 4. In this paragraph—
The modifications in this paragraph have effect if the Secretary of State gives the district registrar notice under section 48(8C) of the 2014 Act of a decision to investigate whether the referred marriage is a sham. Section 6(4)(a) has effect as if— Section 19(1) has effect as if for the words from “28 days” to “that marriage” there were substituted “the relevant 70 day period”. In sections 6(4)(a) and 19 (as modified by this paragraph) “relevant 70 day period” means the period— This paragraph is subject to paragraph 4.
Where— the duty under section 6(1) to complete the Marriage Schedule arises on the giving of the authorisation, subject to any other requirements applicable to the completion of the Schedule being met. But the requirements of paragraph 2 are not applicable in such a case. The Secretary of State is not prevented from deciding to conduct, conducting, or continuing, an investigation if a Marriage Schedule is completed or, as the case may be, issued or the marriage solemnised, as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1). But in such a case, nothing in the 2014 Act requires the Secretary of State to decide whether to conduct, or to continue, an investigation. In this paragraph “investigation” means an investigation, conducted following a decision by the Secretary of State under section 48 of the 2014 Act, whether a proposed marriage is a sham.