{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-causes-act-1973/section-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-causes-act-1973/section-3.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1973/18",
  "legislation_title": "Matrimonial Causes Act 1973",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/matrimonial-causes-act-1973",
  "path": "section/3",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Bar on applying for a divorce order within one year of marriage.",
  "text": "(1) An application for a divorce order may not be made before the expiration of the period of one year from the date of the marriage.\n(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 3 substituted (with saving) by Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (c. 42, SIF 49:3), ss. 1, 46(1), 48(2), Sch. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 3(1) substituted (6.4.2022) by Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (c. 11), s. 8(1)(8), Sch. para. 3(b) (with s. 8(4)); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 3(2) omitted (6.4.2022) by virtue of Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (c. 11), s. 8(1)(8), Sch. para. 3(c) (with s. 8(4)); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 3 heading substituted (6.4.2022) by Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (c. 11), s. 8(1)(8), Sch. para. 3(a) (with s. 8(4)); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/18/section/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:47:46.859204+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."
}