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MINIMUM MARRIAGE AGE RAISED FROM 16 TO 18 IN ENGLAND AND WALES

People in England and Wales must now be aged 18 and over to get married.

The bill, which was first introduced in June last year, is set to become law later this week after it receives Royal Assent, and will override the previous law that stated people can get married at the age of 16 with parental consent.

Under the new law, adults could face up to seven years jail time for facilitating underage marriages. Participating children will not face jail time.

The law also applies to cultural or religious marriages not registered with the couples’ local council.

Read the full article in the Independent here.