Minimum age of marriage in England and Wales ============================================ Minimum age of marriage raised to 18 ------------------------------------ As of the 27th of February 2023, the minimum legal age to marry in England and Wales is 18. Marriages involving anyone under 18 are now [void](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/void-marriages), even with parental consent. Such marriages will be considered void and any adult who facilitates a marriage where either party is under 18 will be committing a criminal offence and could face up to 7 years in prison. This also applies to cultural and religious marriages which aren't recognised as legal marriages. This marks a relatively recent change in the law, introduced by [the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/28). Previously, a person could get married at 16 or 17 years old, provided that they had parental consent. The validity of a marriage under the previous law is not affected by this change. **If your marriage was forced, or you are concerned that either yourself or another person is at risk of forced marriage please [contact the police](https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-us) and the . If you are in immediate danger, please call the police on 999. For legal advice, contact Vardags today for a free initial consultation with one of our expert divorce and family law solicitors.** [BOOK FREE CONSULTATION](https://vardags.com/contact "BOOK FREE CONSULTATION") where in the uk does this law apply? ------------------------------------ This law applies to England and Wales only. In Scotland, the minimum age a person can get legally married is at 16. In Northern Ireland, the minimum age a person can legally marry is also 16, but parental consent is required (unlike in Scotland). Marriages held in other jurisdictions are typically recognised in England and Wales, provided that the marriage satisfied the validity requirements of the jurisdiction where it was done. However, the marriage of a child under 18 will not be recognised even if it takes place outside of England and Wales, if the child usually lives in England and Wales. The minimum age was raised due to concerns that the previous law provided insufficient protection for victims of forced marriage. This is because the marriage of a 16- or 17-year-old with parental consent was only illegal if it was deemed a [forced marriage](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/forced-marriage), with coercion, such as the use or threat of force, being a required element of the offence. Now, any marriage where either party is under 18 will automatically be deemed a forced marriage. Further resources ----------------- - [Forced marriage resource pack - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forced-marriage-resource-pack/forced-marriage-resource-pack) - [Raising marriage age in England and Wales is 'huge leap forward' in tackling 'hidden abuse' | UK News | Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/raising-marriage-age-in-england-and-wales-is-huge-leap-forward-in-tackling-hidden-abuse-12820730) - [Legal age of marriage increases from 16 to 18 in England and Wales - Girls Not Brides](https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/articles/legal-age-of-marriage-increases-from-16-to-18-in-england-and-wales/) - [Forced marriage: a survivors guidebook](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e995d5de90e07049676101f/Forced_Marriage-_survivor_s_handbook.pdf) About Us -------- Ayesha VardagFounder & President "A DIVORCE LAWYER WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST" The Metro Vardags offer a unique approach to the law, specially tailored to the needs of HNW individuals. We offer City-quality representation for your divorce and family law needs. Our lawyers come from the very best universities and receive the very best training - they are determined, diligent, and dedicated to getting the best outcome... [read more](https://vardags.com/about-us) [BOOK FREE CONSULTATION](https://vardags.com/contact) Related Guides -------------- [Bigamy and polygamous marriages in the UK](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/bigamy-and-polygamy "Bigamy and polygamous marriages in the UK") [Prohibited marriages between relatives](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/prohibited-marriages-between-relatives "Prohibited marriages between relatives") [Void marriages](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/void-marriages "Void marriages") [Who can get married in the UK?](https://vardags.com/law-guide/legal-marriage-requirements/who-can-get-married-in-the-uk "Who can get married in the UK?") The information on this website is intended as a guide and does not constitute legal advice. Vardags do not accept liability for any errors in the information on this website, nor any losses stemming from reliance upon the statements made herein. All articles and pages aim to reflect the legal position at time they were published, and may have been rendered obsolete by subsequent developments in the law. Should you require specialist advice, tailored to your situation, please see how Vardags can help you.