SCOTTISH MARRIAGES
Bill To Abolish Irregular Forms (Received March 23, 9.30 p.m.) London, March 23. The Secretary for Scotland introduced to-day the Marriage in Scotland Bill, giving effect to the recommendations of the Morison Committee on the law of Scotland relating to the constitution of marriage. The Bill will do away with Gretna Green marriages. No date has been fixed for the second reading, which may not take place till later in the session. Tlie Bill will not only abolish Gretna Green weddings, but also two other forms of irregular marriage. The first of'these is by declaration, involving the exchange of consent, either in writing or orally, for which no previous notice is required. Such persons are united as fully as if nt a church service. About 4000 marry under this system every year, and subsequently register their marriage with tlie Sheriff.
The other form that will be abolished is marriage by promise, which hardly arises nowadays, but marriage “by habit and repute.” by which the court may infer marriage after a couple had been living as man and wife for 12 to 15 years, will not be altered. Only a dozen such cases come before the courts in a year.
The Bill provides for the registration of all marriages.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 11
Word Count
210SCOTTISH MARRIAGES Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 11
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