(a) the civil partnership ends on the conversion, and

(b) the resulting marriage is to be treated as having subsisted since the date
the civil partnership was formed.

(8) In this section—

• 5“England and Wales civil partnership” means a civil partnership which is
  formed by two people registering as civil partners of each other in
  England or Wales (see Part 2 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004);

• “relevant armed forces personnel” means—

  (a)

  a member of Her Majesty’s forces;

  (b)

  10a civilian subject to service discipline (within the meaning of the
  Armed Forces Act 2006);

  and for this purpose “Her Majesty’s forces” has the same meaning as in
  the Armed Forces Act 2006;

• “relevant official” means—

  (a)

  15the Registrar General;

  (b)

  a superintendent registrar;

  (c)

  a registrar;

  (d)

  a consular officer in the service of Her Majesty’s government in
  the United Kingdom;

  (e)

  20a person authorised by the Secretary of State in respect of the
  solemnization of marriages or formation of civil partnerships in
  a country or territory in which Her Majesty’s government in the
  United Kingdom has for the time being no consular
  representative.

10 25Extra-territorial matters

(1) A marriage under—

(a) the law of any part of the United Kingdom (other than England and
Wales), or

(b) the law of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom,

30is not prevented from being recognised under the law of England and Wales
only because it is the marriage of a same sex couple.

(2) For the purposes of this section it is irrelevant whether the law of a particular
part of the United Kingdom, or a particular country or territory outside the
United Kingdom—

(a) 35already provides for marriage of same sex couples at the time when this
section comes into force, or

(b) provides for marriage of same sex couples from a later time.

(3) Schedule 2 (extra-territorial matters) has effect.

Effect of extension of marriage

11 40Effect of extension of marriage

(1) In the law of England and Wales, marriage has the same effect in relation to same sex
couples as it has in relation to opposite sex couples.

(2) The law of England and Wales (including all England and Wales legislation whenever
passed or made) has effect in accordance with subsection (1).

(3) Schedule 3 (interpretation of legislation) has effect.

(4) Schedule 4 (effect of extension of marriage: further provision) has effect.

(5) Subsections (1) and (2) and Schedule 3 do not have any effect in relation to—

(a) Measures and Canons of the Church of England (whenever passed or
5made),

(b) subordinate legislation (whenever made) made under a Measure or
Canon of the Church of England, or

(c) other law relating to the Church of England (whether or not contained
in England and Wales legislation) which the Secretary of State
10prescribes by order.

(6) In this section and Schedules 3 and 4—

• “existing England and Wales legislation” means—

  (a)

  in the case of England and Wales legislation that is primary
  legislation, legislation passed before the end of the Session in
  15which this Act is passed (excluding this Act), or

  (b)

  in the case of England and Wales legislation that is subordinate
  legislation, legislation made on or before the day on which this
  Act is passed (excluding legislation made under this Act);

• “new England and Wales legislation” means—

  (a)

  20in the case of England and Wales legislation that is primary
  legislation, legislation passed after the end of the Session in
  which this Act is passed, or

  (b)

  in the case of England and Wales legislation that is subordinate
  legislation, legislation made after the day on which this Act is
  25passed.

Part 2 Other provisions relating to marriage and civil partnership

12 Change of gender of married persons or civil partners

Schedule 5 (change of gender of married persons or civil partners) has effect.

13 30Marriage overseas

(1) Schedule 6 (marriage overseas) has effect.

(2) The Foreign Marriage Act 1892 is repealed.

Part 3 Final provisions

14 35Transitional and consequential provision

(1) The Secretary of State or Lord Chancellor may, by order, make such
transitional, transitory or saving provision as the Secretary of State or Lord
Chancellor considers appropriate in connection with the coming into force of
any provision of this Act.

(2) The Secretary of State or Lord Chancellor may, by order, make such provision
as the Secretary of State or Lord Chancellor considers appropriate in
consequence of this Act.

(3) The provision that may be made by an order under subsection (1) or (2)
5includes provision amending UK legislation.

(4) Schedule 7 (transitional and consequential provision etc) has effect.

15 Orders and regulations

(1) Any power of the Secretary of State, Lord Chancellor or Registrar General to
make an order or regulations under this Act is exercisable by statutory
10instrument.

(2) The following subordinate legislation may not be made unless a draft of the
statutory instrument containing the legislation has been laid before, and
approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament—

(a) an order under section 8;

(b) 15an order under section 14(1) or (2) which amends an Act of Parliament;

(c) an order under paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 (except for an order which
contains only provision under paragraph 1(2) of that Schedule).

(3) The following subordinate legislation is subject to annulment in pursuance of
a resolution of either House of Parliament—

(a) 20an order under section 11(5)(c);

(b) an order under section 14(1) or (2) (unless it amends an Act of
Parliament);

(c) an order under paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 2 (unless the order also
contains provision made under paragraph 1(1) of that Schedule);

(d) 25an order under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2;

(e) an order under paragraph 24 of Schedule 4.

(4) An order or regulations made under this Act may—

(a) make different provision for different purposes,

(b) make transitional, transitory or saving provision, or

(c) 30make consequential provision.

(5) Any power of the Secretary of State or Lord Chancellor under this Act to
amend legislation by subordinate legislation includes power to repeal or
revoke legislation (and any reference to the amendment of legislation by such
an order or regulations is to be read accordingly).

(6) 35The Secretary of State or Lord Chancellor must—

(a) obtain the consent of the Scottish Ministers before making any order
under this Act containing provision which amends Scottish legislation
if that provision would (if contained in an Act of the Scottish
Parliament) be within the legislative competence of that Parliament;

(b) 40consult the Department of Finance and Personnel before making any
order under this Act containing provision which amends Northern
Ireland legislation if that provision would (if contained in an Act of the
Northern Ireland Assembly) be within the legislative competence of
that Assembly.

16 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, an expression set out in an entry in the first column of this table has
the meaning given in the corresponding entry in the second column.

(2) In this Act—

• “existing England and Wales legislation” has the meaning given in section
  11;

• 30“new England and Wales legislation” has the meaning given in section 11;

• “registrar” means a registrar of births, deaths and marriages;

• “Registrar General” means the Registrar General of England and Wales.

(3) For further interpretation provision relating to this Act, see paragraph 5 of
Schedule 3.

17 35Extent

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales.

(2) These provisions of this Act also extend to Scotland—

(a) in Part 1, section 10(3) and Schedule 2;

(b) Part 2;

(c) Part 3.

(3) These provisions of this Act also extend to Northern Ireland—

(a) in Part 1, section 10(3) and Schedule 2;

(b) 5Part 2;

(c) Part 3.

(4) Subsections (1) to (3) are subject to subsections (5) and (6).

(5) An amendment or repeal or revocation made by this Act has the same extent
as the provision amended or repealed or revoked.

(6) 10But any amendment of the following Acts extends to England and Wales
only—

(a) the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;

(b) the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

(c) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

18 15Short title and commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.

(2) This section comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(3) Subject to that, this Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State
may by order appoint; and different days may be appointed for different
20purposes.

SCHEDULES

Section 4

SCHEDULE 1 Registration of buildings etc

1 Part 3 of the Marriage Act 1949 is amended in accordance with this Schedule.

2 5After section 43 insert—

“43A Registration of buildings: marriage of same sex couples

(1) A building that has been certified as required by law as a place of
religious worship may be registered under this section for the
solemnization of marriages of same sex couples.

(2) 10Any application for registration of a building under this section is to
be made—

(a) by a proprietor or trustee of the building;

(b) to the superintendent registrar of the registration district in
which the building is situated.

(3) 15An application for registration of a building under this section must
be accompanied by—

(a) a certificate, given by the applicant and dated not earlier than
one month before the making of the application, that the
persons who are the relevant governing authority in relation
20to the building have given written consent to marriages of
same sex couples as mentioned in section 26A(3),

(b) a copy of that consent, and

(c) if the building is not already registered under section 41, a
certificate of use for religious worship.

(4) 25The superintendent registrar must send to the Registrar General—

(a) the certificate or certificates, and

(b) the copy of the consent,

which accompany an application under this section.

(5) The Registrar General must then register the building.

(6) 30A building may be registered for the solemnization of marriages
under this section whether it is a separate building or forms part of
another building.

(7) In this section, in relation to an application under this section,
“certificate of use for religious worship” means a certificate given by
35at least twenty householders and dated not earlier than one month
before the making of the application, stating that they—

(a) use the building as their usual place of public religious
worship, and

(b) wish the building to be registered under this section.

43B Buildings registered under section 43A: appointment of authorised
5persons

(1) For the purpose of enabling marriages to be solemnized in a building
registered under section 43A without the presence of a registrar, the
trustees or governing body of that building may authorise a person
to be present at the solemnization of marriages in that building.

(2) 10Where a person is so authorised in respect of any building registered
under section 43A, the trustees or governing body of that building
must certify the name and address of the person so authorised to—

(a) the Registrar General, and

(b) the superintendent registrar of the registration district in
15which the building is situated.

(3) The power conferred by this section may only be exercised after the
end of the relevant one year period (and, if that period has ended
before the date of the registration under section 43A, the power may
accordingly be exercised immediately).

(4) 20The relevant one year period is the period of one year beginning with
the date of the registration of the building under section 43A (the
“new registration”).

(5) But if—

(a) there is any earlier registration of the building under section
2541 which is still in force at the date of the new registration, or

(b) there has been any earlier qualifying registration of a
previous building,

the relevant one year period is the period of one year beginning with
the date of that registration (or the earlier of those dates).

(6) 30For that purpose there is a qualifying registration of a previous
building if—

(a) the congregation on whose behalf the new registration is
made previously used another building for the purpose of
public religious worship,

(b) 35that building was registered under section 41 or 43A, and

(c) that registration was cancelled not more than one month
before the date of the new registration.

(7) A reference in this section to the solemnization of marriage is a
reference to the solemnization of marriage of a same sex couple.

(8) 40Nothing in this section is to be taken to relate or have any reference
to marriages solemnized according to the usages of the Society of
Friends or of persons professing the Jewish religion.

43C Cancellation of registration under section 43A

(1) The registration of a building under section 43A may be cancelled
45under this section.

(2) Any application under this section is to be made—

(a) by a proprietor or trustee of the building;

(b) to the superintendent registrar of the registration district in
which the building is situated.

(3) The superintendent registrar must forward any application under
5this section to the Registrar General; and the Registrar General must
then cancel the registration of the building.

(4) This section is subject (in particular) to sections 44A to 44C
(registration of shared buildings for marriage of same sex couples)
and regulations made under any of those sections.

43D 10Regulations about sections 41 and 43 and 43A to 43C

(1) The Registrar General, with the approval of the Secretary of State,
may by statutory instrument make—

(a) regulations modifying the application of section 41 or 43 in
relation to buildings which are already registered under
15section 43A;

(b) regulations supplementing the provision made by any of
sections 43A, 43B and 43C.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1)(b) may, in particular, make
provision—

(a) 20as to the procedures to be followed by the person making an
application under section 43A or 43C or giving an
authorisation under section 43B;

(b) as to the procedures to be followed by superintendent
registrars or the Registrar General on an application under
25section 43A or 43C or on the certification of an authorisation
under section 43B;

(c) about cases where a person makes applications under
sections 41 and 43A, or gives or certifies authorisations under
sections 43 and 43B, in respect of the same building at the
30same time (including provision modifying any requirement
imposed by any of those sections);

(d) as to the payment of fees.”.

3 After section 44 insert—

“Registration of shared buildings for marriage of same sex couples

44A 35Building subject to Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969: registration

(1) This section applies to a registration application relating to a
building that is—

(a) subject to a sharing agreement, or

(b) used as mentioned in section 6(4) of the 1969 Act.

(2) 40The registration application must be made in accordance with
section 43A (as read with section 26A(3)).

(3) But those provisions have effect subject to the following provisions
of this section.

(4) Each of the sharing churches is a relevant religious organisation for
45the purposes of section 26A(3).

(5) A consent given under section 26A(3) (a “consent to marriages of
same sex couples”) by the relevant governing authority of any of the
sharing churches is therefore sufficient for the registration
application to be made in compliance with section 26A(3) (and
5references to the consent of the relevant governing authority in
section 43A are to be read accordingly).

(6) But the registration application may not be made unless the relevant
governing authorities of each of the sharing churches (other than
those which have given consents to marriages of same sex couples)
10have given a separate written consent to the use of the shared
building for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples (a
“consent to use”).

(7) The registration application must also be accompanied by—

(a) a certificate, given by the applicant and dated not more than
15one month before the making of the application, that the
relevant governing authorities mentioned in subsection (6)
have given written consents to use, and

(b) copies of those consents.

(8) The superintendent registrar must also send to the Registrar
20General—

(a) the certificate, and

(b) the copies of the consents,

which accompany the application in accordance with subsection (7).

(9) The Registrar General must not register the shared building unless
25and until subsection (8) and the requirements of section 43A have
been complied with.

(10) The Secretary of State may by statutory instrument make regulations
containing such provision supplementing this section as the
Secretary of State thinks appropriate.

44B 30Building subject to sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969: cancellation

(1) This section applies to a cancellation application relating to a
building that is—

(a) subject to a sharing agreement, or

(b) used as mentioned in section 6(4) of the 1969 Act.

(2) 35The cancellation application must be made in accordance with
section 43C.

(3) But section 43C has effect subject to the following provisions of this
section.

(4) The cancellation application may be made either—

(a) 40by a proprietor or trustee of the building, or

(b) by the relevant governing authority of any of the sharing
churches.

(5) For that purpose, in relation to a sharing church, “relevant governing
authority” means the person or persons recognised by the members
45of the sharing church as competent for the purpose of making an

application under section 43C in the circumstances to which this
section applies.

(6) In a case where the cancellation application is made by a relevant
governing authority in accordance with subsection (4)(b)—

(a) 5the application must be accompanied by a certificate, given
by persons making the application, that they are the relevant
governing authority of one of the sharing churches; and

(b) the superintendent registrar must (in addition to forwarding
the application in accordance with section 43C(3)) send a
10copy of that certificate to the Registrar General.

(7) The Secretary of State may by statutory instrument make regulations
containing such provision supplementing this section as the
Secretary of State thinks appropriate.

44C Other shared buildings: registration and cancellation

(1) 15The Secretary of State may by statutory instrument make regulations
about the use, for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples
under section 26A, of buildings that are shared but neither—

(a) subject to a sharing agreement, nor

(b) used as mentioned in section 6(4) of the 1969 Act.

(2) 20Regulations under this section may, in particular, make provision
about—

(a) registration applications, and

(b) cancellation applications,

relating to such buildings.

44D 25Sections 44A to 44C: supplementary provision

(1) In sections 44A to 44C (and this section)—

• “1969 Act” means the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969;

• “cancellation application” means an application under section
  43C for the cancellation of the registration of a building;

• 30“registration application” means an application under section
  43A for the registration of a building;

• “sharing agreement” has the meaning given in section 1 of the
  1969 Act;

• “shared building” means a building that is—

  (a)

  35subject to a sharing agreement,

  (b)

  used as mentioned in section 6(4) of the 1969 Act, or

  (c)

  otherwise shared;

• “shared building provisions” means sections 44A to 44C;

• “sharing churches” means—

  (a)

  40in the case of a building subject to a sharing
  agreement, the churches that have made the
  agreement;

  (b)

  in the case of a building used as mentioned in section
  6(4) of the 1969 Act, the churches who so use it;

  (c)

  45in the case of any other shared building, the religious
  organisations (whether Christian or of another faith)
  which share it.