MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3611, 10 March 1927, Page 3

MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

The attention of the clergy is called by the “Church News” (Christchurch) to the new regulation Avhicli came into force on Ist January, concerning the marriage of minors. If both parents live together, consent of both is required; if divorced or legally separated, consent of the party having custody, or both if custody is divided during the year; if one parent lias been dieserted, the consent of the deserted party; if both parents deprived of custody by Court order, the consent of the legal guardian. When one parent is dead, consent rests Avith the survivor, unless the deceased has appointed a guardian to act Avith the other jointly; if both parents arc dead, consent is required from the guardian or guardians appointed by the parents or the Court. In the case of parents absent from the Dominion, the Act provides that in the event of satisfactory proof of the inaccessibility or disability of the parent, the Registrar may issue a certificate of marriage after fourteen days’ notice, or alternatively the consent of the Supreme Court may be obtained. The clergy are protected by the registrar’s certificate on the margin of the license to the effect that consent has been obtained, but the fresh regulation emphasises the need of attention to that marginal certificate.