Forbidden Marriages
You must not be related to each other in a way that is forbidden by Law
Minimum Age
The minimum legal age for getting married is 16 years old. In Northern Ireland
the written consent of the parents or Guardians is required for persons who have
not reached 18 years old and have not been previously married. If either of the
persons is below 18 a birth certificate must be produced. It is preferred that
all persons produce such evidence.
Sex
It is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland (All the United Kingdom) that one
partner must have been born a male and the other a female.
Consent
Both partners must be acting by their own consent.
Sound Mind
Both partners to be married must be of sufficiently sound mind to understand the
nature of the marriage contract.
Second and subsequent marriages
There is no limit to the number of marriages you can enter into providing you
are free to do so. That is you are widowed or have been divorced and granted a
decree absolute. Evidence will be required to be produced i.e. original death
certificate or divorce absolute certificate with the original court seal.
(photocopies are not acceptable)
Procedure
There is less choice choice about where to marry in Northern Ireland, as it was
excluded from the Marriage Act 1994 which allowed venues authorized by the local
authority to be used for weddings.
The choice in Northern Ireland is between a civil ceremony which must take place
in a register office of the district where one of the partners lives.
Civil marriages may only be conducted in a register office. Religious marriages
may be conducted anywhere at the discretion of the authorized person.
The legal formalities
Notice of marriage can be given in one of two ways:
Registrar's License
If both partners live in the same registrar's district, one must have lived
there for at least fifteen days and the other for at least seven days prior to
notice is given to the registrar. If the partners live in different districts
then notice must be given to both districts and both partners must have lived in
their respective districts for more than fifteen days before notice is given.
both partners living in same district or in different districts.
The Registrar will issue the license seven clear days after receiving notice.
Registrar's Certificate
The residency requirements are seven days for both partners in the case of
The certificate will be issued after 21 clear days have elapsed.
