On 27 February 2023 the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 is due to come into force. This will have the effect of raising the legal age for marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales to 18. The aim is to protect children from being compelled to enter into forced marriages.
Currently children aged 16 and 17 are able to marry or enter into a civil partnership with the consent of a parent or guardian. As a result of the above Act, children aged 16 and 17 will be prevented from marrying/entering into a civil partnership after 27 February 2023.
The Act will also make it a criminal offence to cause a child under the age of 18 to enter into a marriage/civil partnership. It will no longer be necessary to prove coercion took place to be guilty of this offence.
It is hoped this new Act will lead to a reduction in the number of children entering into marriage or a civil partnership before they reach adulthood.