Marriage Act 1949 (Amendment) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Creates a new offence: purporting to solemnise an unregistered marriage.
• Applies to anyone who conducts or claims to conduct a marriage ceremony that is not registered.
• Aims to deter fraudulent or improper wedding ceremonies and protect the integrity of the marriage registration system.
• Introduced in the Lords and at the earliest stage of parliamentary consideration (first reading as of 19 July 2022).

Progress

The bill is at the very start of its journey, having just had its first reading in the Lords on 19 July 2022; it has yet to progress to the second reading or any committee stage.