Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

114 Removal of restrictions on times for marriage or civil partnership

(1) In the Marriage Act 1949—

(a) omit section 4 (solemnization of marriages to take place at any time between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.), and

(b) omit section 75(1)(a) (offence of solemnizing a marriage outside the permitted hours).

(2) In section 16(4) of the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970 (disapplication of certain provisions of the Act of 1949) for “sections 75(1)(a) and” substitute “section”.

(3) In section 17(2) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (registration as civil partners under the standard procedure to take place on any day in the applicable period between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.)—

(a) for “on any day in” substitute “at any time during”, and

(b) omit “between 8 o’clock in the morning and 6 o’clock in the evening”.

(4) Omit section 31(2)(ab) of that Act (offence of officiating at the signing of a civil partnership schedule outside the permitted hours).