Marriage controls and consanguinity There are still strict controls in England and Wales on who may and may not marry. These are the controls as they stand at present. • People under 16 years of age may not marry. • If a person over 16 but under 18 wishes to marry, consent must be obtained from the parents or other lawful guardians or guardian. • No person who is already married to a living spouse can marry someone else; if they do so the second marriage is invalid. • No person who is going through a divorce may marry until the decree absolute has been granted. • The two people wishing to marry must be male and female respectively. (more…)

Thinking ahead – marriage preparation What are your expectations of marriage? Or haven’t you thought that far? It may be that you are caught up with the mechanics of your actual wedding day, and it may be difficult to look beyond that to your marriage itself. But remember that your wedding day should only be the start; it is the marriage itself that will take the time, the effort, the planning. You are two very different people coming together to live permanently under the same roof, and it is unrealistic to expect that everything will fall perfectly into place immediately the register is signed. It is well worth taking the time now, during your engagement, to look ahead to your marriage and to try and sidestep some of the common pitfalls. (more…)