Petition · past parliament
To reform outdated English marriage law, which is no longer ‘Fit For Purpose’
Closed
289 signatures
What the petition asks
We need to reform the Marriage Act 1949 as it is 70 years out of date.
Make it compulsory for every faith to register marriages, not just 3 faiths (Anglicans, Jews and Quakers).
100,000s have no legal rights in an unregistered religious marriage and this figure is rising yearly.
Make it compulsory for every faith to register marriages, not just 3 faiths (Anglicans, Jews and Quakers).
100,000s have no legal rights in an unregistered religious marriage and this figure is rising yearly.
Religious marriages conducted abroad are legally recognised, but UK religious marriages are not. The result? Chaos, injustice and discrimination:
- Overnight homelessness, destitution
- lost savings invested in ‘matrimonial’ home
- No Pension or Inheritance rights
- Men, women and children suffer
There are no Cohabitation rights - and these couples face a double handicap as they thought they were married.
In the 21st century, a fair and equal marriage law needs to cover all faiths.
- Overnight homelessness, destitution
- lost savings invested in ‘matrimonial’ home
- No Pension or Inheritance rights
- Men, women and children suffer
There are no Cohabitation rights - and these couples face a double handicap as they thought they were married.
In the 21st century, a fair and equal marriage law needs to cover all faiths.
Timeline
| 22 Nov 2017 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 May 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
289
Status
Closed
Opened
22 Nov 2017
Closed
22 May 2018
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.