PART 1Introduction
Citation and commencement1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021.
2
Subject to paragraphs (3) to (10), these Regulations come into force on 4th May 2021.
3
The following provisions come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made—
a
this regulation;
b
regulation 2 (extent);
c
regulation 3 (interpretation);
d
paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 (transitional provision relating to the Marriage (Scotland) Act 19563);
e
paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 (operation of sections 16 and 17 of the Interpretation Act 19784).
4
The following provisions come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made for the purposes of the Registrar General making regulations under the 1949 Act—
a
regulation 5(3) and (5) (amendment of section 31 of the 1949 Act (marriage under certificate without licence)5);
b
regulation 7 (insertion of sections 53A to 53E into the 1949 Act (registration of marriages));
c
paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 (insertion of section 21A into the 1949 Act (issue of marriage document));
d
paragraph 12(2) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 27 of the 1949 Act (notice of marriage)6);
e
paragraph 43 of Schedule 1 (amendment of regulation making power in section 74 of the 1949 Act (regulations and approval of electronic forms etc)7);
f
paragraph 47(2) and (4) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 78 of the 1949 Act (interpretation)8);
g
paragraph 53(3) of Schedule 1 (amendment of Marriage (Scotland) Act 1956).
5
The following provisions come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made for the purposes of the Secretary of State making regulations under the 1949 Act—
a
regulation 7 (insertion of sections 53A to 53E into the 1949 Act (registration of marriages));
b
paragraph 12(3) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 27 of the 1949 Act (notice of marriage));
c
paragraph 42 of Schedule 1 (amendment of regulation making power in section 71A of the 1949 Act (fees)9);
d
paragraph 47(4) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 78 of the 1949 Act (interpretation)).
6
The following provisions come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made for the purposes of an Order in Council being made under section 39 of the 1949 Act—
a
paragraph 27 of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 39 of the 1949 Act (issue of certificates on board Her Majesty’s ships)10);
b
paragraph 47(4) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 78 of the 1949 Act (interpretation)).
7
The following provisions come into force on 19th April 2021—
a
paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 (insertion of section 21A into the 1949 Act (issue of marriage document)) for all remaining purposes;
b
paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 (issue of marriage document before 4th May 2021 for marriage on or after that date);
c
paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 (issue of marriage schedule before 4th May 2021 for marriage on or after that date).
8
The following provisions come into force on 19th April 2021 for the purposes of paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 (issue of marriage schedule before 4th May 2021 for marriage on or after that date)—
a
regulation 5(3), (5) and (9) (amendment of section 31 of the 1949 Act (marriage under certificate without licence));
b
paragraph 21(2) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 31ZA(2) of the 1949 Act (notice of marriage: false information or evidence)11);
c
paragraph 22 of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 31A of the 1949 Act (appeal on refusal under section 31(2)(a) or 31ZA of that Act)12);
d
paragraph 44(5) of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 75 of the 1949 Act (offences relating to issuing marriage schedules)13).
9
The following provisions come into force on 1st July 2021—
a
regulation 4 (amendment of section 28B of the 1949 Act (provision of evidence)14);
b
paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 1 (amendment of paragraph (a) of section 27ZA of the 1949 Act (entry of particulars in notice book: compliance with requirements)15).
10
The following provisions come into force on 1st August 2021—
a
regulation 6 (repeal of sections 53 to 62 of the 1949 Act) insofar as it omits—
i
section 57 of the 1949 Act (quarterly returns to be made to the superintendent registrar)16;
ii
section 58 of the 1949 Act (quarterly returns to be made by superintendent registrar to Registrar General)17;
iii
section 62(2)(a) of the 1949 Act (delivery of certified copies on church ceasing to be used for solemnization of marriages);
b
paragraph 45 of Schedule 1 (amendment of section 76 of the 1949 Act (offences relating to registration of marriages)18);
c
paragraph 64 of Schedule 1 (amendment of the Marriage (Authorised Persons) Regulations 195219) insofar as it omits—
i
the definition of “superintendent registrar” in regulation 2 of the Marriage (Authorised Persons) Regulations 1952;
ii
regulations 7 and 9(2) of the Marriage (Authorised Persons) Regulations 195220;
d
paragraphs 70(4) and (5) of Schedule 1 (amendment of the Registration of Marriages Regulations 201521 in relation to quarterly returns);
e
paragraph 70(6)(a) of Schedule 1 (amendment of Schedule 1 to the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2015) insofar as it omits the rows beginning “16” and “17”;
f
paragraph 70(6)(b) of Schedule 1 (amendment of Schedule 1 to the Registration of Marriages Regulations 2015) insofar as it omits prescribed forms 16 and 17.