What age can you marry in UK?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 13, 2026
The current law in England and Wales means people can get married at 18 or, with parental consent, at 16 or 17. But there is no law against religious or cultural ceremonies which are not registered with local councils taking place under this age.
Can you marry in the UK at 16?
Legal age of marriage set to be raised from 16 to 18 in England and Wales. The legal age for marriage will be raised from 16 to 18 in England and Wales under plans backed by MPs today. The government has backed a Tory MP's Bill that will ban 16- and 17-year-olds marrying with parental or judicial consent.
Can a 13 year old get married UK?
Minimum age
In 1929, in response to a campaign by the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship, Parliament raised the age limit to 16 for both sexes in the Ages of Marriage Act. This is still the minimum age.
What is the youngest age you can get married in UK?
The legal minimum age to enter into a marriage in England and Wales is eighteen years. Certain relatives are not allowed to marry. For foreign nationals, there are also residency conditions that have to be met before people can be married.
Can a 16 year old marry a 20 year old UK?
A person aged 16 or 17 cannot marry without parental consent. Consent can be given in person or in writing to the Superintendent Registrar.
43 related questions foundCan you marry a girl under 18?
It came into effect from 1 November 2007, replacing the Child Marriage Restraint Act (CMRA) of 1929 or Sharda Act. This law was amended in 1978, wherein the legal age of marriage of girls was raised from 15 to 18 years and of boys from 18 to 21 years. The amended law was known as the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929.
Can I marry at 18?
The government has decided to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years, bringing it at par with that of men. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday had cleared a proposal to bring in uniformity in the marriageable age of men and women, sources said on Thursday.
Can you get engaged at 14 in the UK?
There is no minimum age to get engaged, so this is legal.
Can you marry your cousin UK?
It's legal to marry your cousin in the UK - and it happens more often than you might think. Marriage between cousins is a contentious topic across the globe, but you may be surprised to hear it's completely legal in the UK.
Who can marry UK?
All couples can get married or form a civil partnership in the UK if they are:
- 16 or over.
- free to marry (ie not already married or in a civil partnership)
- not closely related.
- capable of understanding what marriage means and of consenting to a marriage.
Can I marry brother?
Siblings cannot marry in the United States
Many states outlaw sexual relationships between siblings and between parents and their children, and no state allows siblings to marry.
Can I marry my adopted daughter?
ANSWER: The adopted siblings described here, who are related by adoption only, but not by blood, can marry. However, they must request authorization from the court. Adopted siblings who are related within the fourth degree are prohibited from marrying each other.
Can I marry cousin?
Cousin marriage laws in the United States vary considerably from one state to another, ranging from cousin marriages being legal in some to being a criminal offense in others. However, even in the states where it is legal, the practice is not widespread.
What can I do when I turn 16?
16 things you can do when you turn 16: An unofficial and in no way recommended guide
- 1) Register to Vote. ...
- 3) Leave Home. ...
- 4) Get Frisky. ...
- 5) Apply for a Passport. ...
- 6) Drink (in extreme moderation) ...
- 7) Join the Army (with parental consent) ...
- 8) Buy a Pet. ...
- 9) Buy a Lottery Ticket.
Can a 16 year old marry a 18 year old UK?
The current law in England and Wales means people can get married at 18 or, with parental consent, at 16 or 17. But there is no law against religious or cultural ceremonies which are not registered with local councils taking place under this age.
What is the youngest age a person can get married?
In the United States, the marriage age is set by each state and territory, either by the common law or by individual statutes. Minimum marriage ages are set to prevent child marriages. An individual in the U.S. can marry without parental consent at the age of 18 in all states except for Nebraska, where the age is 19.
Can u get married to yourself?
Legally, self-marriage isn't legitimate but there are no laws against it. Sologamy is more of a symbolic ritual than a legal contract, which means you're allowed to make your own rules. You can have all the fun of the tradition without worrying about pesky paperwork.
Can you marry your sibling UK?
Blood relatives
This includes marriages between siblings ('sibling' means a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister) and between a parent and child (for example; a mother and son or father and daughter). You also cannot marry your grandparent, grandchild, your parent's sibling or your sibling's child.
Can you marry your sibling?
What is this? There is no law that says marriage to a sibling and incest are connected, but incest is clearly defined in almost every country. The most common definition of incest is that it is sexual activity between family members or relatives that are close to the bloodline.
Is there child marriage in the UK?
Currently 16 and 17-year-olds can be legally married with parental consent within the UK. However, many children are married due to parental coercion. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill will raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18 in England and Wales.
Can you have a fiance at 16?
Getting engaged is not a legal status and you can "get engaged" all you want. You cannot marry until you are over 18 without parental consent AND a court order. It is also illegal for you to have sex, or engage in any sexual conduct (kissing, making...
What country has the youngest marriage age?
Out of all of the countries in the world, Chad has the youngest average age of first marriage at 19.2 years. Two African countries, Niger and Mozambique, come in the second and the third positions with 19.4 and 19.6 years respectively.
Can a 12 year old get married in the US?
This is a fact! While 18 is the minimum marriage age in most states, there are exceptions in every state that allow children younger than 18 to marry, typically with parental consent or judicial approval.
At what age should a boy marry?
A new study suggests that people should get married between the ages of 28 and 32 if they don't want to get divorced, at least in the first five years.
Can I marry at 20?
There is no best age to get married that applies to everyone. You're never too old for it, and while it's very possible to get married before you're ready, it's often not necessarily because you're too young to marry.