Getting married
You are entitled to get married if you are single, widowed or divorced and you meet the age requirements.
A marriage can take place at a register office, at a building approved for civil marriage or in a religious building registered for the solemnisation of marriage.
For more information on the legal requirements of getting married, see: The law on getting married
Minimum age for getting married
The minimum age at which you can get married varies, depending on where you live:
- In England & Wales and Northern Ireland, you can marry from the age of 16 if you have parental consent. However, without parental consent, the minimum age for getting married is 18.
- In Scotland, you can get married from the age of 16, with or without parental consent.
Considerations before getting married
There are many things to consider before getting married, such as:
- Do you need to consider whether you should enter into a prenuptial agreement?
- Does one or both of you wish to change your name or that of a minor child following your marriage?
- When do you want your wedding to take place, taking into consideration the time it takes to give notice before your wedding?
- If one of you is subject to immigration control, what steps must you take before you can get married?
In this section of the law guide, we explore all of these issues relating to getting married. Click on the links on the left hand side of the page to find out more information on all of these topics relating to your marriage.
