A Bill to raise the minimum age of consent to marriage or civil partnership to eighteen; create an offence of causing a person under the age of eighteen to enter into a marriage or civil partnership; and for connected purposes.
House of Lords
17 March 2017
This Bill would raise the minimum age to marry or form a civil partnership to 18. It also creates an offence of causing someone under 18 to enter into a marriage or civil partnership. The aim is to protect young people from pressure or coercion in these situations.
The Bill is at the third reading stage in the House of Lords. If it passes, it will proceed to the House of Commons for scrutiny and potential amendments.
Generated 21 February 2026
Third reading - the final chance for the Lords to change the Bill - took place on 20 December and no amendments were made.
The Bill now goes to the Commons for its consideration.
The 2016-2017 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
