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15/11/2021
Proposed Changes To Two Aspects Of Local Marriage Law
A public consultation has been launched on proposed changes to two aspects of the local Marriage Law.
The consultation, launched by the Department of Finance, is seeking feedback on changing marriage laws to include belief marriages – such as those overseen by humanist celebrants, and which are currently subject to temporary arrangements, would have an equal legal footing with religious marriage.
The Department is also asking the public for their views on raising the minimum age at which people can legally marry or enter into a civil partnership.
Views are sought on raising the current minimum age from 16, with parental consent, to 18. There have been recent calls from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to raise the age to 18 in jurisdictions which currently allow child marriage.
The consultation will run until 18 February 2022. If you would like to participate and help shape future government policy in this area, visit www.finance-ni.gov.uk/consultations for more information.
The consultation, launched by the Department of Finance, is seeking feedback on changing marriage laws to include belief marriages – such as those overseen by humanist celebrants, and which are currently subject to temporary arrangements, would have an equal legal footing with religious marriage.
The Department is also asking the public for their views on raising the minimum age at which people can legally marry or enter into a civil partnership.
Views are sought on raising the current minimum age from 16, with parental consent, to 18. There have been recent calls from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to raise the age to 18 in jurisdictions which currently allow child marriage.
The consultation will run until 18 February 2022. If you would like to participate and help shape future government policy in this area, visit www.finance-ni.gov.uk/consultations for more information.
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