Finance Minister John O’Dowd has introduced the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The legislation raises the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership to 18.

Current rules allow 16- and 17-year-olds to marry or form civil partnerships with parental consent. The bill removes this option and makes arranging any marriage involving a person under 18 a criminal offence.

O’Dowd stated the change aims to protect children and young people from risks including forced marriage and loss of education opportunities. He noted girls face higher risks than boys in such cases.

The minister cited recommendations from United Nations organisations and local stakeholders to increase the age from 16 to 18. He added that nearly all consultation respondents backed the proposal.

The bill also provides permanent legal recognition to belief marriages, such as humanist ceremonies. These have operated under temporary provisions for several years and will now match the status of religious marriages.

Records show 183 marriages with at least one partner under 18 occurred from 2020 to 2024. Provisional 2025 data indicate 13 more such cases.

The bill now advances through the Assembly for further consideration.