{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/marriage-act-1949/section-21A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/marriage-act-1949/section-21A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/76",
  "legislation_title": "Marriage Act 1949",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/marriage-act-1949",
  "path": "section/21A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "21A",
  "heading": "Issue of marriage document after publication of banns or the grant of a special or common licence",
  "text": "(1) This section applies to a marriage solemnized—\n(a) after the publication of banns,\n(b) on the authority of a special licence, or\n(c) on the authority of a common licence.\n(2) Before the solemnization of the marriage, the clergyman who is to solemnize the marriage must issue a document, or ensure a document is issued and provided to the clergyman, in any form, and with any content, that may be prescribed.\n(3) The document issued under subsection (2) is to be known as a “marriage document”.\n(4) The clergyman must retain the marriage document until it is delivered to a registrar in accordance with section 53D(2).",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 21A and cross-heading inserted (27.3.2021 for specified purposes, 19.4.2021 in so far as not already in force) by The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/411), reg. 1(4)(c)(7)(a), Sch. 1 para. 7 (with Sch. 2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/76/section/21A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:20:09.980125+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."
}