From the 27th of February 2023, the legal minimum age for marriage has risen from sixteen years to eighteen years under the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 in England and Wales. The change has been implemented in part, to tackle forced marriages on children in addition to the Government’s commitment to deal with violence against girls and women.
Dominic Raab MP, The Deputy Prime Minster, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice said: “This law will better protect vulnerable young people, by cracking down on forced marriage in our society. Those who act to manipulate children into marrying under-age will now rightly face the full force of the law.”
The new Law also provides that adults who are found guilty of facilitating underage marriage, could face up to seven years in jail.
More information is available here: Legal age of marriage in England and Wales rises to 18 – Government response to public consultation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk )
