AI Summary of 31. Age of marriage.
A marriage solemnised after the commencement of this section between persons either of whom is under the age of 18 years shall not be valid in law. The prohibition applies to marriages solemnised in the State irrespective of where the spouses are ordinarily resident, and to marriages solemnised outside the State if at the time of solemnisation either spouse is ordinarily resident in the State. The age requirement is declared a substantive requirement for marriage. Paragraph (b) is deleted.
Any person to whom application is made for the solemnisation of an intended marriage may request production of evidence of age for either or both parties. Refusal or failure to comply with such a request is a proper reason to refuse the application, and if evidence shows either or both parties are under 18 the application shall be refused. A person who knowingly solemnises or permits the solemnisation of, or is a party to, a marriage that is not valid under this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.
31. Age of marriage.
(i) A marriage solemnised, after the commencement of this section, between persons either of whom is under the age of 18 years shall not be valid in law.
(ii) Subparagraph (i) applies to any marriage solemnised -
(I) in the State, irrespective of where the spouses or either of them are or is ordinarily resident, or
(II) outside the State, if at the time of the solemnisation of the marriage, the spouses or either of them are or is ordinarily resident in the State.
(b) [deleted]
(c) The requirement in relation to marriage arising by virtue of paragraph (a) is hereby declared to be a substantive requirement for marriage.
(2) Any person to whom application is made in relation to the solemnisation of an intended marriage may, if he or she so thinks fit, request the production of evidence of age with respect to either or both of the parties concerned.
(3) Where a request is made under subsection (2) -
(a) refusal or failure to comply with the request shall be a proper reason for refusal of the application concerned, and
(b) if the request is complied with and the evidence shows that either or both of the parties is or are under the age of 18 years, the application shall be refused.