A Bill to revoke parental or judicial consent which permits the marriage or civil partnership of a child and to criminalise child marriage or civil partnership under the age of 18; and for connected purposes
House of Lords
5 May 2021
This bill would stop anyone under 18 from marrying or forming a civil partnership by removing any parental or judicial consent that currently allows child marriages. It would set 18 as the legal minimum age for marriage and civil partnerships and make under-18 marriages or partnerships illegal. It may include related measures to protect young people from coerced or forced marriages and to support enforcement of the new rules.
The bill is at the second reading in the House of Lords. If it progresses, it would move to committee stage in the Lords followed by further readings before moving to the House of Commons.
Generated 21 February 2026
First reading took place on 27 January. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.
The 2019-2021 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
