Commentary Part 1 – Marriage Overview Section 18: The Marriage Schedule
102.This section amends the 1977 Act in relation to the power to prescribe the form of the Marriage Schedule and makes a number of changes to how quickly the marriage schedule and a certificate of no impediment should be issued after notice of intention to marry has been submitted by the parties to an intended marriage.
103.Subsection (2) amends section 6 of the 1977 Act so that regulations prescribing the form of the Marriage Schedule may make different provision for different cases or circumstances. This would, for example, allow the Marriage Schedule to take one form for opposite sex marriage and another for same sex marriage.
104.Section 6(4)(a) of the 1977 Act provides that a district registrar shall not issue a Marriage Schedule within 14 days of receiving a marriage notice. A Schedule may be issued earlier, on a specified date, where there is a written request and the Registrar General authorises the registrar to issue the Schedule on the specified date. The amendment at subsection (2)(b) changes the 14 day period to 28 days.
105.Section 7 of the 1977 Act relates to the issue of a certificate of no impediment to marry where a person residing in Scotland intends to marry outwith Scotland. Section 7(2) provides that the certificate shall not be issued earlier than 14 days after receiving the marriage notice. The amendment at subsection (3) changes the 14 day period to 28 days.
106.Section 19 of the 1977 Act provides that an authorised registrar shall not solemnise a marriage within 14 days of receiving a marriage notice. The amendment at subsection (4) changes this period to 28 days. An exception in section 19(1) of the 1977 Act allows the marriage to be solemnised earlier, on a specified date, where there is a written request and the Registrar General authorises the registrar to solemnise the marriage on the specified date.