Marriage In Scotland

Summary:

• Minimum age 16 years old. No parental consent required
• No residency requirements
• By law both parties to a proposed civil or religious marriage are required to submit marriage notice forms to the registrar of the district in which the marriage is to take place informing him or her of their intention to marry
• Forms for giving notice can be obtained from any registrar of births, deaths and marriages in Scotland
• Notice must be given in the three-month period prior to the date of marriage and NOT LATER than 15 days before that date

You can be married in either of two ways in Scotland - by a religious ceremony or by a civil ceremony.

A civil marriage may be solemnised only by a registrar or an assistant registrar who has been authorised by the Registrar General for that purpose.

A religious marriage, whether Christian or non-Christian, may be solemnised only by a minister, clergyman, pastor, priest or the other person entitled to do so under the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.

Who Can Be Married In Scotland?

Any two persons, regardless of where they live, may marry in Scotland provided that:

• Both persons are at least 16 years of age on the day of their marriage
• They are not related to one another in a way which would prevent their marrying
• They are unmarried (any person who has already been married must produce documentary evidence that the previous marriage has been ended by death, divorce or annulment)
• They are not the same sex
• They are capable of understanding the nature of a marriage ceremony and of consenting to marriage
• The marriage would be regarded as valid in any foreign country to which either party belongs