Explanatory note

This Order amends the Marriage Act 1949 so that a marriage may be solemnized up to twelve months after entry of notice given to a superintendent registrar in the marriage notice book (Article 2(2) and (3)). The relevant period was previously three months.

The extended period of validity of civil preliminaries to marriage does not apply to the marriage of a person who is housebound or detained, or to marriages where one of the parties is resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland (Article 2(3)).

The Order makes consequential amendments to the provisions on offences relating to solemnization of marriages (Article 2(4)) and transitional provision for notices entered in the marriage notice book prior to the date on which it comes into force (Article 3).