Overview

This bill aims to amend the Marriage Act 1949 to explicitly prohibit marriage between first cousins in England and Wales. It adds "first cousin" to the list of prohibited relationships in the Act, clarifying the definition for legal purposes.

Description

The Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill seeks to make a specific addition to the existing Marriage Act 1949. The key change is the inclusion of "first cousin" within Schedule 1 of the Act, which outlines prohibited degrees of kinship for marriage. The bill defines "first cousin" as "the child of a parent's sibling" providing clarity to this addition. This amendment will only apply to England and Wales. The Act will come into force three months after it receives Royal Assent.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on government spending. The primary cost will likely involve administrative changes to reflect the amendment within existing legal frameworks. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The primary group affected are first cousins who are currently in or considering marriage in England and Wales. The bill will legally prevent them from marrying. Legal professionals and those involved in marriage registration will also be affected, needing to be aware of the amendment and its implications. The impact on those already married is not addressed in this bill text.

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