Marriage Act, 1914
The Marriage Act is the earliest codified statute governing the celebration of marriages in Nigeria. Enacted in 1914 during the colonial period, it provides the legal framework for the solemnization of civil and church marriages. The Act establishes requirements for valid marriages, including notice of intention, capacity to marry, and the formalities of the marriage ceremony.
Legal area: Law relating to marriage, divorce, child custody, and domestic relationships.
Year enacted: 1914
Full text: https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/marriage-act.html
Key Provisions
- Part II: Preliminary requirements for marriage, including publication of banns or notice
- Part III: Mode of marriage by licence or registrar
- Part IV: Capacity and consent requirements for valid marriage
- Section 11: Minimum age requirements for marriage
- Section 18: Prohibited degrees of consanguinity and affinity
- Section 33: Registration of marriages
Significance
The Marriage Act remains the governing statute for statutory (civil and church) marriages in Nigeria. It is one of the oldest surviving pieces of Nigerian legislation. The Act’s validity requirements and capacity provisions continue to be applied by Nigerian courts, though they have been supplemented by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1970 and various state laws.