Grenada is making ready to lift the authorized minimal age for marriage from 16 to 18, eliminating all exceptions presently allowed beneath parental or guardian consent. The 2025 Marriage (Modification) Invoice is scheduled to be tabled within the Decrease Home on July 24, marking step one within the parliamentary course of.
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The invoice proposes to amend Chapter 184 of the Marriage Act, formally growing the minimal marriage age to 18 and aligning it with the Age of Civil Authorized Duty Act (2011), which defines 18 because the age at which people achieve full authorized capability to deal with civil issues independently.
“This Invoice seeks to amend the Marriage Act… to extend the minimal age at which an individual could marry from 16 years of age to 18 years of age, and to take away any exceptions thereto, with consequential amendments to associated laws,” the invoice’s explanatory be aware states.
At the moment, people aged 16 and older can marry with parental or guardian consent. That provision will probably be eliminated completely as soon as the invoice is handed and enacted, standardizing the age requirement and guaranteeing that minors can now not marry beneath any circumstances.
The proposed adjustments additionally prolong to the Marriage (Particular Licences—Vacation spot Wedding ceremony) Rules, repealing and changing Regulation 8. The modification would require all candidates for a particular marriage licence — together with international guests who’ve been within the nation for a minimum of 24 hours — to be a minimum of 18 years outdated. Beneath the present legislation, underage candidates can marry if they supply documented parental consent.
As soon as accepted by each Homes of Parliament, the brand new legislation will successfully prohibit little one marriage in Grenada and produce the nation in step with worldwide human rights requirements that decision for 18 because the minimal authorized age for marriage.
