The legal age of marriage in England and Wales has risen to 18

The new law which came into force on 27 February 2023 (The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2002) means that it is no longer legal for 16 and 17 year olds to be allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership, even if they have the consent of their parents.

This law has been brought in to tackle the issue of forced marriages. It is now a criminal offence to cause a child under 18 to enter a marriage in any circumstances, without the need to prove that a form of coercion was used. This also includes non-legally binding ‘traditional’ ceremonies if it would still be viewed as a marriage by the parties and their family.

Individuals who are found guilty of arranging child marriages could be facing imprisonment for up to seven years.

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