{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-marriage-northern-ireland-order-2003/article-23",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-marriage-northern-ireland-order-2003/article-23.json",
  "legislation": "ukdsi/2003/0110442903",
  "legislation_title": "The Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-marriage-northern-ireland-order-2003",
  "path": "article/23",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "23",
  "heading": "Order dispensing with relevant consent",
  "text": "(1) A county court may make an order dispensing with the consents required by Article 22 in relation to a young person if it is satisfied that the proposed marriage is in the best interests of the young person and either—\n(a) it is not reasonably practicable to obtain the consent of any person whose consent is required; or\n(b) any person whose consent is required withholds or refuses his consent; or\n(c) there is uncertainty as to whose consent is required.\n(2) An application for an order under this Article may be made—\n(a) by or on behalf of the young person; or\n(b) by or on behalf of any person (including another young person) intending to marry a young person,\nand without the intervention of a next friend.\n(3) The decision of the county court on any application made under this Article shall be final and conclusive.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2003/0110442903/article/23",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-30T15:25:43.003851+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}