After the expiration of the twenty-one daps, or of seven days, if the marriage is by licence (that le, frown the surrogate), it may be solem niaeal the registered building seated in the notice, between and by the patties deeenbed In the notice and certificate according to Ruch forum and ceremony as they may see fit to adopt, every such marriage to be s with open doors between eight and twelve in the fore neon, in the presence of some registrar of the district in which the buililing is of two witnesses.
In sonic part of the ceremony, and in the presence of im registrar and witnesses, each of the parties is to declare ' 1 do solemnly declare, that I know not of any lawful itnpodi ment why I, A. B., may not be joined in matrimony to C. D.' And each of the parties is to say to the other ' I call upon these persons here present, to witness that I, A. B., do take thee, C. D., to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).' Provided also, that there be no lawful Impediment to the marriage of such parties (s. 20). Persons who object to marry in any such regis tered building may, after doe notice and certificate issued, contract and solemnise marriage at the office of the superintendent registrar, and in his presence and in that of some registrar of the district, and of two witnesses, with open doors, and between the hours aforesaid, making the declaration and using the form of words as above (a. 21). After any marriage solemnised, It is not necessary, in support of such marri age, to giro proof of the actual dwelling of either of the parties 'previous to the marriage within the district for the time required by the act, or of time consent of any person whose consent is required ; nor is evidence admissible to prove the contrary in any suit touching the validity of such marriage (a. 25). The registrar before whom any mar riage Is solemniaed according to the provisions of this act may ask of the parties to be married the several particulars required to be regis tered touching such marriage (e. 36). Every person knowingly and wilfully making any false declaration, or signing any false notice or certificate required by this Act, for the purpose of procuring any mar riage, and every person forbidding the issue of any superintendent registrar's certificate by falsely representing himself or herself to be a person whose consent to, such marriage Is required by law, knowing such representation to be false, is to suffer the penalties of perjury (a. 89). If any person knowingly and wilfully intermarry tinder the
provisions of this Act,—in any place other than the church, chapel, registered building, or office, or place specified in the notice and certificate,—or without due notice to the superintendent rogis tmr,—or without certificate of notice duly issued,—or without licence, in ease a licence is necessary,—or in the absence of a registrar, where the presence of a registrar or superintendent registrar is necessary, the marriage of such persons, except in certain excepted cases, is null and void (s. 42); as under 4 Coo. IV., e. 76, s. 22, a marriage would not be void unless both parties knowingly and wilfully conourred in marrying contrary to the provisions of the 42nd section. If any valid marriage be had under the provisions of this Act by means of any wilfully false notice, certificate, or declaration made by either party to such marriage, as to any matters to which a notice, certificate, or declaration is required, the attorney-general or sollcitor-general may sue for a forfeiture of all estate and interest in any property accruing to the offending party by such marriage (e. 49). Consent to marriage may be withdrawn upon good reason ; but it would rather appear that this cannot be done merely because the parent or guardian has changed his mind. The question of consent is not however of such vital Importance as under the first Marriage Act (26 Coo. 11., c. 33, a. 11), which made marriages without consent of parents, &e., absolutely void. Under 4 Geo. IV., c. 76, a. 23, and 0 & 7 Wm. IV., e. 85, e. 43, tm false statement as to nansent subjects the fraudulent party to the penalties of perjury, and to a forfeiture of all estate and interest In any properties accruing by the marriage, but leaves the marriage itself in full force.
The slat. 7 & 8 Vict., c. 86, provides for time licensing of district churches and ohapela for the celebration of marriage. The stet. 10 & 20 Vict., e. 119, enables parties who have entered Into the contract of marriage merely before the superintendent registrar to have the cere monies of their church or persuasion added at any time afterwards. (' Black. Comm.,' Mr. Kerr's ed., vol. 1, p. 464.) Thew atatutes do not extend to marriages contracted out of England, or to marriages of the royal family, which are regulated by a particular statute, 12 George I l i., c. 11.