Introduction
1.These explanatory notes relate to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which received Royal Assent on 17 July 2013. They have been prepared by the Government Equalities Office (which is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport), the Ministry of Justice (in respect of provisions relating to marriage law and gender recognition), the General Register Office (which is part of the Home Office) (in respect of provisions relating to the functions of the Registrar General), the Department for Work and Pensions (in respect of provisions relating to pensions and benefits), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (in respect of provisions relating to consular marriages) and the Ministry of Defence (in respect of provisions relating to the Armed Forces). Their purpose is to assist the reader in understanding the Act. They do not form part of the Act and have not been endorsed by Parliament.
2.The notes need to be read in conjunction with the Act. They are not, and are not meant to be, a comprehensive description of the Act. So where a section or part of a section does not seem to require any explanation or comment, none is given.