The minimum age to be married in England and Wales has been raised to 18. Previously people aged 16 and 17 could get married if they had the consent of their parents, and there was no law against people getting married even younger in ceremonies which were not legally binding.
However, the minimum age will now be 18, and this will also cover ceremonies which are not legally binding.
It is now illegal for anyone to marry if they are younger than 18. People found guilty of arranging such ceremonies could face up to seven years in prison.
The minimum age for marriage remains 16 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. People younger than 18 who want to get married in Northern Ireland need parental consent, but not in Scotland.
Dominic Raab, the secretary for justice in the United Kingdom, was quoted as saying: ‘Those who act to manipulate children into marrying under-age will now rightly face the full force of the law.’