Marriage and Civil Partnership
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on UK Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, and official guidance.
UK National Law
What is this right?
In England and Wales, you can legally marry or enter a civil partnership. Key rules:
- You must be at least 18 years old (the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised this from 16).
- Both parties must freely consent — forced marriage is a criminal offence.
- You must not be already married or in a civil partnership (bigamy is a criminal offence).
- You must not be closely related (prohibited degrees of relationship).
Same-sex marriage has been legal since March 2014. Civil partnerships are open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples (since December 2019).
Marriage and civil partnership carry the same legal rights in terms of inheritance, tax, pensions, and next-of-kin status.
When does it apply?
- You want to formalise your relationship for legal, financial, or personal reasons.
- You must give 28 days' notice to the register office before the ceremony (29 days for Church of England/Wales marriages).
- Forced Marriage Protection Orders are available if someone is being forced into marriage — the court can make an order to prevent the marriage and protect the victim. Forcing someone to marry is punishable by up to 7 years in prison.
- Marriages can take place in registered buildings (churches, mosques, synagogues, temples), register offices, or approved premises (hotels, stately homes, etc.).
What should you do?
- Give notice at your local register office — both partners must do this in person. Bring your passport/birth certificate and proof of address.
- If either party is from outside the UK, immigration checks may be conducted during the notice period.
- Consider a prenuptial agreement — while not automatically binding in England and Wales, courts give them significant weight if both parties had independent legal advice and full disclosure.
- If you're at risk of forced marriage, call the Forced Marriage Unit on 020 7008 0151 or contact the police.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't marry if you're already legally married — you must obtain a divorce or annulment first.
- Don't assume cohabitation gives you the same rights as marriage — unmarried partners have significantly fewer legal protections in England and Wales (there is no "common-law marriage" in English law).
- Don't skip the notice period — a marriage without proper notice is void.
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