Marriage in the United Kingdom has different laws and procedures in the different countries. For details see:
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Marriage in England and Wales
Marriage is available in England and Wales to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples and is legally recognised in the forms of both civil and religious marriage. Marriage laws have historically evolved separately from marriage laws in other juri ...
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Marriage in Northern Ireland
The marriageable age is 16 with parental consent but 18 otherwise. Marriage must be between two otherwise unmarried people (foreign divorces are generally recognised, but existing foreign polygamous marriages prevent a marriage as this would b ...
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Marriage in Scotland
Marriage in Scotland is recognised in the form of both civil and religious unions between individuals. Historically, the law of marriage has developed differently in Scotland to other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom as a consequence of the di ...
History
A survey in the United Kingdom in 2011 showed that people who are married are more likely to be happy than those who are not married.
ONS well-being report reveals UK's happiness ratings
retrieved 25 July 2012
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples were introduced in 2004 and became available in 2005. Same-sex marriage has been legal in England and Wales since 2014, with Scotland also allowing same-sex marriage later in 2014.
See also
* Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom
Same-sex marriage is legal in all parts of the United Kingdom. As marriage is a devolved legislative matter, different parts of the UK legalised at different times; it has been recognised and performed in England and Wales since March 2014, in ...
* Civil partnership in the United Kingdom
Civil partnership in the United Kingdom is a form of civil union between couples open to both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.
History
Civil partnerships were introduced for same-sex couples under the terms of the Civil Partnershi ...
* Polygamy in the United Kingdom
Polygamous marriages may not be performed in the United Kingdom, and if a polygamous marriage is performed, the already-married person may be guilty of the crime of bigamy under section 11 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
England and Wales
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Notes
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