MARRIAGE ACT

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MARRIAGE ACT

CHAPTER M6 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, L.F.N. 2004

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1.       Short title.  

2.       Interpretation.      

3.       Marriage districts.

4.       Appointment of registrars.       

5.       Offices of registrars.      

6.       Places of worship to be licensed for celebration of marriages.

Preliminaries to Marriage

7.       Notice of marriage.         

8.       Signature of notice by person unable to write or to understand English language.

9.       Registrars to supply forms of notice.

10.     Notice to be entered in marriage notice book and published.    

11.     (1) Registrar to issue certificate on proof of conditions by affidavit.

(3) Explanations to be given.   

12.     Marriage to take place within three months after date of notice.

13.     Minister may’ grant licence to marry. 

14.     Caveat may be entered against issue of certificate.        

15.     When caveat entered question to be referred to court.

16.     Removal of caveat.         

17.     Compensation and costs.                  

Consent to Marriage in certain cases necessary

18.     Consent to marriage of minors.

19.     Signature or consent by person unable to write or to understand English language.       

20.     Consent where no parent or guardian capable of consenting.

Celebration of Marriage

21.     Marriage in licensed place of worship.

Proviso as to times and witnesses.     

22.     Minister not to celebrate marriage if impediment nor without licence etc.     

23.     Where minister may celebrate marriage.

24.     Registrars to be provided with books of certificates.        

25.     Entries to be made in marriage certificate.  

26.     Signature of certificate. Duplicate certificate to be sent to registrar.

27.     Marriage in a registrar’s office. Form to be observed.      

28.     Marriage certificate to be signed.       

29.     Marriage under licence.

Registry and Evidence of Marriages

30.     Marriage certificate to be registered. 

31.     Correction of clerical errors in marriage certificates.        

32.     Evidence of marriage.

Invalid Marriages

33.     Invalid marriages.

34.     Marriages under this Act valid. 

35.     Native marriages.

36.     Fees Second Schedule.  

37.     Fees may be remitted on ground of poverty.         

38.     Minister may receive customary fees

Offences and Penalties

39.     Marriage with a person previously married.  

40.     Making false declarations etc. for marriage.

41.     False pretence of impediment to marriage.

42.     Unlawfully performing marriage ceremony.  

43.     Wilful neglect of duty to fill up or transmit marriage in marriage.       

44.     Personation in marriage.

45.     Fictitious marriage.        

46.     Contracting marriage under this Act when already married by native law.    

47.     Contracting marriage by native law when already married by this Act.

48.     Marrying minor without prescribed consent.                             

Foreign Marriages

49.     Validity of foreign marriages.   

50.     Marriage officers. 

51.     Marriage officers office.

52.     Act to apply subject to modifications. 

53.     Modifications referred to in section 52. 

Forms

54.    Forms.

Repeals.

55.    Repeals

First Schedule

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MARRIAGE ACT 

An Act to make provisions for the celebration of marriages.

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(COMMENCEMENT)                      (31st December, 1914)

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1.     Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Marriage Act.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO THE LAWS OF NIGERIA (UPDATED TO 2018)