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 Commons
5 May 2021
The bill would make it illegal for anyone under 18 to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK, even with parental or judicial consent. It would remove any permissions that currently allow child marriages and create offences with penalties for those who organise or participate in such unions. It also establishes 18 as the minimum age and aims to protect children from entering into marriages or civil partnerships below that age.
The bill is currently at the second reading in the House of Commons, where MPs discuss the general principles. If MPs approve it, it will move to committee scrutiny and then on to the Lords for consideration.
Generated 21 February 2026
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
