Marriage (Approved Organisations) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Extends the legal power to solemnise marriages to authorised belief organisations, subject to an official authorisation process.
• Creates a formal authorisation framework with eligibility criteria and ongoing oversight.
• Ensures marriages performed by authorised belief organisations are legally recognised and comply with equality and safeguarding requirements.
• May affect how civil registrars record marriages and interact with ceremonies conducted by different organisations.

Progress

The bill is currently at the 2nd Reading in the Lords. After this stage it would typically move to committee stage in the Lords, with further readings before it could move to the Commons.