A Bill to make amendments to the Marriage Act 1949 to make provision for all religious marriages to be solemnized on the authority of a superintendent registrar
House of Lords
12 September 2019
This Bill would amend the Marriage Act 1949 to require that all religious marriages be solemnised under the authority of a superintendent registrar. It aims to place religious wedding ceremonies under registrar oversight for legal recognition and record-keeping, bringing them into a consistent framework with civil marriages. The change is intended to promote equal and predictable rules across different religious communities.
The Bill is currently at the second reading in the House of Lords. The next step is the Lords’ committee stage for detailed scrutiny before it progresses further through the Lords and on to the Commons if it advances.
Generated 21 February 2026
First reading took place on 10 July. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
The 2017-2019 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
