As the law currently stood, it was possible for 16- and 17-year-olds to enter into marriage and civil partnerships in England and Wales with parental or judicial consent. However, this will no longer be the case with the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act coming into effect today. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act was given Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 and will reform both the Marriage Act 1949 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to make it a criminal offence … [Read more...]
Divorce Rates Continue To Decline As Couples Look To Cohabitation
The latest divorce figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the divorce rate in England and Wales continues to fall. There were 111,169 divorces in 2014, a decrease of 3.1% compared with 2013 and a substantial decline of 27% from a recent peak in 2003. The leading explanation for this leans towards the increasing trend for couples to cohabit. Divorce rates for men and women, 1950 to 2014, England & Wales. Cohabitation Instead Of Marriage? Increasingly couples are … [Read more...]