Family Law Reform Act 1969

2Provisions relating to marriage

(1)In the following enactments, that is to say—

(a)section 7(c) of the [1892 c. 23.] Foreign Marriage Act 1892 (persons under 21 intending to be married by a marriage officer to swear that necessary consents have been obtained);

(b)paragraph 2(c) of Part I of the Schedule to the [1906 c. 40.] Marriage with Foreigners Act 1906 (persons under 21 seeking certificate to swear that necessary consents have been obtained);

(c)section 78(1) of the [1949 c. 76.] Marriage Act 1949 (definition of " infant" as person under the age of 21),

for the words " twenty-one years " there shall be substituted the words " eighteen years ".

(2)In subsection (5) of section 3 of the said Act of 1949 (which defines the courts having jurisdiction to consent to the marriage of an infant)—

(a)for the words " the county court of the district in which any respondent resides " there shall be substituted the words " the county court of the district in which any applicant or respondent resides "; and

(b)after the words " or a court of summary jurisdiction " there shall be inserted the words " having jurisdiction in the place in which any applicant or respondent resides ".

(3)Where for the purpose of obtaining a certificate or licence for marriage under Part III of the said Act of 1949 a person declares that the consent of any person or persons whose consent to the marriage is required under the said section 3 has been obtained, the superintendent registrar may refuse to issue the certificate or licence for marriage unless satisfied by the production of written evidence that the consent of that person or of those persons has in fact been obtained.

(4)In this section any expression which is also used in the said Act of 1949 has the same meaning as in that Act.