Scottish Government seeking views on raising the minimum age of marriage
A consultation on potential reform to various aspects of family law has been announced by the Scottish Government (29 December), including whether legislation should be introduced to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18.
Currently, Scotland is the only UK nation that allows marriage from the age of 16 without parental permission. However, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, has recommended that Scotland raises the minimum age to 18 in order to protect young people.
The consultation will respond to this recommendation, as well as consider whether legislation on forced marriage, which became a criminal offence under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, should be updated to criminalise behaviour intended to cause a person under 18 to marry or to enter a civil partnership.
The Scottish Government’s Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown, said:
“A marriage or civil partnership is a significant commitment with important legal and financial consequences, so it is essential that it is entered into freely and for the right reasons. This consultation is important as, while ceremonies involving under 18s are rare, raising the minimum age would ensure that no one under 18 can enter a legally recognised marriage or civil partnership in Scotland.”
The consultation is due to close on 21 April 2026.