GOV.UK
Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK
1. Overview
You can get married or form a civil partnership in the UK if you’re:
- 16 or over
- free to marry or form a civil partnership (single, divorced or widowed)
- not closely related
You need permission from your parents or guardians if you’re under 18 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Only same sex couples can form a civil partnership.
There has been no change to the rights and status of EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU, as a result of the referendum.
Same sex couples
You can:
- form a civil partnership in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- get married in England, Scotland and Wales
- convert your civil partnership into a marriage in England, Scotland and Wales
Marriages and civil partnerships in Scotland and Northern Ireland
You can read more about the rules:
- in Scotland for marriages and civil partnerships
- in Northern Ireland for marriages and civil partnerships