Marriage Act · 2013 Revised Edition · Part I · Preliminary
4. Modes of solemnising marriages
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Every marriage under this Act shall be solemnised either by a minister of religion or in accordance with section 22.
marriage
“marriage” means a marriage as understood by English law, that is, the voluntary union for life or until the marriage is dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction of one man with one woman to the exclusion of all others;
Subject to the provisions of section 35, every marriage, not being a marriage to which by virtue of section 1(2) does not apply, either or both of the parties to which is monogamous by religion or by the law of his domicile, if solemnised otherwise than in accordance with subsection (1), shall be void.
Subject to the provision of sections 34 and 35, every marriage solemnised before the coming into operation of this Act, not being a marriage to which by virtue of section 1(2) does not apply, either or both of the parties to which is monogamous by religion or by the law of his domicile, shall be and shall be deemed always to have been void, unless it was solemnised by a minister of religion or civil authority under the laws in that behalf then in force.
minister of religion
“minister of religion” means any priest of the Anglican Church, any minister of the Church of Scotland or Presbyterian Church of England, any priest of the Church of Rome and or any other minister or ecclesiastical or religious official of any other denomination or sect who is authorised under this Act to solemnise marriages;
Terms defined in s 2
marriage
Defined · s 2“marriage” means a marriage as understood by English law, that is, the voluntary union for life or until the marriage is dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction of one man with one woman to the exclusion of all others;
minister of religion
Defined · s 2“minister of religion” means any priest of the Anglican Church, any minister of the Church of Scotland or Presbyterian Church of England, any priest of the Church of Rome and or any other minister or ecclesiastical or religious official of any other denomination or sect who is authorised under this Act to solemnise marriages;
Part II
Religious Marriages
Part III
Civil Marriages
Part IV
Offences and Penalties
Part V