Who can get married in the UK?

WHo can get married in the uk?

Any couple may get married in the UK in a civil or religious ceremony, provided that they are:

• Over 18
• Not closely related (read the list of prohibited relatives here)
• Not already married

If you are considering or going through a divorce and are concerned about the legal validity of your marriage, contact Vardags today for a free initial consultation with one of our expert divorce solicitors.

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age and consent

Following the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, a person must now be at least 18 years’ old before they can get married in the UK. Previously, parties could marry if they were 16 or 17 provided that they had parental consent. 

This change was widely welcomed, particularly from women’s charities and activists against forced marriage. The law now states that a marriage where either party is under 18 is automatically considered a forced marriage. You can learn more about the background of this reform by reading our guide on the new age requirement to marry.

A marriage will also be considered a forced marriage if either party was married without their ‘free and full’ consent.

Bigamy & polygamous marriages

You cannot marry in England and Wales if you are already married or in a civil partnership. Any secondary ‘marriage’ entered into with a person who is already married or in a civil partnership will be considered void.

However, polygamous marriage may be recognised in England and Wales if it was entered into in a jurisdiction where such marriages are legally valid. You can learn more by reading our short guide to bigamy and polygamous marriages.

same-sex marriage in the uk

Following the legalisation of same-sex marriage by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which came into effect on the 13^th of March 2014, both same-sex and opposite-sex couples can marry in a civil ceremony in the UK. However, who can marry in a religious ceremony depends on the requirements of the specific religion. For example, same-sex couples cannot currently marry in the Church of England or the Church in Wales.

Prisoners’ restrictions on marriage

An additional exemption was introduced by the Victims and Prisoners Act in May 2024, which provides that prisoners serving whole life sentences are unable to marry or enter into a civil partnership. In certain cases, the Secretary of State may grant permission to marry, but only in ‘exceptional circumstances’.