Marriage 45.01
45 of 1979
51/1980
17 of 1981
5 of 1982
11 of 1988
6 of 1993
32 of 1996
4 of 2013
159/2013
9 of 1932
24 of 1943
24 of 1947
35 of 1952
172/1961
16 of 1962
2/1963
28 of 1973
136/1976
Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised
(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–38 ..
L.R.O.
Act
13 of 1923
Amended by
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
CHAPTER 45:01
MARRIAGE ACT
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Index of Subsidiary Legislation
Page
Marriage (Documents in Support of Affidavit or Statutory Declaration)
Order (LN 188/1996) … … … … … … 38
Note on Delegation Powers
See the Current Edition of Consolidated Index of Acts and Subsidiary Legislation for
Delegation Powers made under sections 6, 18 and 19.
Note on Adaptation
Certain fees in this Chapter were increased by the Commission under paragraph 4 of the Second
Schedule to the Law Revision Act (Ch. 3:03). Where this occurs, a marginal reference in the
form normally indicating an amendment is made to LN 51/1980 (the Legal Notice by which the
President’s approval was signified).
2 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 3
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
CHAPTER 45:01
MARRIAGE ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
ADMINISTRATION
3. Registrar of Marriages.
4. District Registrar, Port-of-Spain.
5. District Registrars, San Fernando and Arima.
6. District Registrars, other Counties.
MARRIAGE OFFICERS
7. Marriage Officers.
8. Application for licence as a Marriage Officer.
9. Resignation of Marriage Officer.
10. Marriage Officer may act in any part of Trinidad and Tobago.
11. District Registrars to keep lists of Marriage Officers.
PRELIMINARIES TO SOLEMNISATION
OF MARRIAGE
12. Alternative procedure which may be followed as a preliminary to
solemnisation of marriage.
13. Notice to District Registrar.
14. District Registrars to send copies of entries to Registrar.
15. Issue of District Registrar’s certificate.
16. Notice to Marriage Officer.
17. Marriage Officer to send copies of entries to Registrar.
18. Issue of Marriage Officer’s certificate.
19. Procedure by licence from the Minister.
19A. Residential requirement for non-residents.
20. Special provisions in cases where one party to intended marriage
does not reside in Trinidad and Tobago.
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS—Continued
SECTION
21. Application for authorisation under section 20.
22. Facilities for marriages between Commonwealth citizens resident in
the United Kingdom and Commonwealth citizens resident in
Trinidad and Tobago.
CONSENT TO MARRIAGE
23. Consent to marriage of minors.
24. Power of Judge to dispense with consent.
CAVEATS
25. Objections to marriage.
26. When caveat entered, matter to be referred to Chief Justice.
27. Removal of caveat.
SOLEMNISATION OF MARRIAGE
28. Marriages before Marriage Officer.
29. Marriages before District Registrar.
30. Notices and licences void unless marriage takes place within six
months.
31. Use of other than English language.
32. Proof of certain matters not required after marriage.
33. When Marriage Officer not compellable to marry.
REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE
34. Marriage to be entered in register and duplicate sent to Registrar.
35. Searches and certified copies.
VOID MARRIAGES
36. Void marriages.
OFFENCES
37. Forging or altering register book, notice, etc.
Making false entries, giving false certificates.
Forged seal.
38. Destroying or injuring register book, etc.
4 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 5
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
SECTION
39. Losing or injuring document.
40. Issuing of certificate to person within prohibited degrees.
41. Offences by Marriage Officers and District Registrars.
MARRIAGE IN EXTREMIS
42. Marriage in extremis.
MISCELLANEOUS
43. Forfeiture of property acquired by marriage had by fraudulent
means.
44. Limitation.
45. Recovery of penalties.
46. Fees payable into public funds.
47. Evidence.
48. Annual abstract.
49. Validation.
50. Amendment of the Schedules.
51. Delegation of powers.
52. Orders made under sections 50 and 51 to be laid before Parliament.
SCHEDULES.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
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*See Act No. 21 of 1990.
CHAPTER 45:01
MARRIAGE ACT
An Act relating to the Solemnisation and Registration
of Marriages.
[1ST JANUARY 1924]
1. This Act may be cited as the Marriage Act.
2. In this Act “Minister” means the Minister to whom
responsibility for the administration of Legal Affairs is assigned.
ADMINISTRATION
3. The Registrar General shall be the Registrar of Marriages
under this Act, and shall keep at his office in Port-of-Spain a
general register of marriages in Trinidad and Tobago.
4. The Registrar of Marriages shall be, in right of his office,
District Registrar of Marriages within the City of Port-of-Spain.
5. The President may appoint such persons as he thinks
fit to be District Registrars of Marriages for the City of
San Fernando and the Borough of Arima, and every person
so appointed shall hold office during the President’s pleasure.
*6. The Revenue Officer in charge of a District Revenue
Office of each County shall be, in right of his office, District
Registrar of Marriages within the Wards comprised in such
County, and such Wards shall be deemed the district of such
District Registrar.
MARRIAGE OFFICERS
7. (1) The President, or any person duly authorised by him,
may grant licences to such persons being ministers of any Christian
1950 Ed.
Ch. 29. No. 2.
13 of 1923.
Commencement.
Short title.
Interpretation.
[5 of 1982].
Registrar of
Marriages.
District
Registrar,
Port-of-Spain.
District
Registrars,
San Fernando
and Arima.
District
Registrars, other
Counties.
Marriage
Officers.
6 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 7
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
religion, as the President or such authorised person may, in his
discretion, think fit, to be Marriage Officers, and, without
assigning any reason for so doing, cancel any such licence.
(2) A licence under this section shall be in the form set
out in Schedule A.
(3) Notice of the granting or cancellation of any such
licence shall be published in the Gazette. Every such notice shall
take effect from the date of publication.
8. (1) Any minister of religion who desires to be licensed
as a Marriage Officer shall make an application to the Minister
which shall—
(a) state the dwelling place of the applicant;
(b) state the name of the religious denomination to
which the applicant belongs;
(c) be accompanied by a certificate from the local
head of such religious denomination to the
effect that the applicant is a fit and proper
person to be licensed as a Marriage Officer; and
(d) be accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars.
(2) Upon the grant of the licence, the minister of religion
shall pay a fee of two hundred dollars.
(3) A licence granted under this section is renewable
every ten years on payment of a fee of one hundred dollars.
9. Any Marriage Officer, subject to the approval in writing
of the local head of his religious denomination, may resign his
appointment as such. Any such resignation shall be notified in the
Gazette, and shall take effect from the date of publication.
10. Any Marriage Officer may act as such in any part of
Trinidad and Tobago.
11. Every District Registrar shall keep affixed in a
conspicuous place in his office a list of all licensed Marriage
Officers, which list shall state the dwelling place of each Marriage
Officer, and the name or other description of the place or places of
public worship (if any) at which he acts as a minister of religion.
Schedule A.
Application for
licence as a
Marriage
Officer.
[6 of 1993].
Resignation of
Marriage
Officer.
Marriage
Officer may act
in any part of
Trinidad and
Tobago.
District
Registrars to
keep lists of
Marriage
Officers.
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PRELIMINARIES TO SOLEMNISATION
OF MARRIAGE
12. Marriage may be solemnised—
(a) under the authority of a District Registrar’s
certificate or District Registrars’ certificates; or
(b) under the authority of a Marriage Officer’s
certificate or Marriage Officers’ certificates; or
(c) under the authority of a licence from the
Minister; or
(d) under the authority of a Special Licence from
the Registrar of Marriages or District Registrar
under the provisions of section 19A; or
(e) under the provisions of section 42.
13. (1) In every case of marriage intended to be solemnised
under the authority of a District Registrar’s certificate or
District Registrars’ certificates, each of the parties shall give
notice of the intended marriage, in the form set out in Schedule B
(making the declaration therein contained), to the District
Registrar of the district within which he or she has respectively
resided for not less than seven days next preceding the date of
such notice. However, when each of the parties to the intended
marriage has resided for the required period in the same district,
a single notice shall be sufficient.
(2) On the receipt of a notice of an intended marriage,
the District Registrar shall forthwith enter the particulars set forth
in the notice and also the date of the receipt of the notice, in a
book to be called the “Marriage Notice Book”, and shall place a
copy of such notice in a conspicuous place in his office for a
period of not less than seven days from the time of its receipt.
(3) For every entry made in the Marriage Notice Book
the District Registrar shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars, and
such Marriage Notice Book shall be open at all reasonable times,
without fee, to all persons desirous of inspecting the same.
Alternative
procedure which
may be
followed as a
preliminary to
solemnisation of
marriage.
[32 of 1996
4 of 2013].
Notice to
District
Registrar.
[51/1980
6 of 1993].
Schedule B.
8 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 9
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
District
Registrars to
send copies of
entries to
Registrar.
Issue of District
Registrar’s
certificate.
[35 of 1952
51/1980
6 of 1993].
Schedule C.
Notice to
Marriage
Officer.
Schedule D.
14. (1) Every District Registrar, not being the Registrar of
Marriages, shall forthwith transmit to the Registrar of Marriages
a copy of every entry which is made by him as provided in
section 13, and the Registrar of Marriages shall, on the receipt
of such entry, file and preserve the same among the records of
his office.
(2) Any District Registrar who, without reasonable
cause or excuse, fails to transmit to the Registrar of Marriages a
copy of any entry in accordance with this section is liable on
summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars.
15. At any time not more than six months nor less than
seven days after the entry of notice, the District Registrar or where
the Marriage Notice Book is kept by a Revenue Officer in the
capacity of District Registrar, any officer authorised in that
behalf in writing by the Revenue Officer, upon being requested
so to do by or on behalf of the party by whom such notice was
given, and in case no lawful impediment shall have been shown to
the satisfaction of such District Registrar or officer, as the case
may be, why such certificate should not issue, and in case no
caveat shall have been entered against the issue of such certificate
in the manner hereinafter mentioned, shall issue under his hand a
certificate according to the form set out in Schedule C, and every
such certificate shall state the particulars set forth in the notice,
and the date on which the notice was entered, and that no caveat
has been entered against the issue of such certificate, and that the
full period of seven days has elapsed since the entry of such
notice; and for every such certificate the District Registrar or
officer, as the case may be shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars.
16. (1) In every case of marriage intended to be solemnised
under the authority of a Marriage Officer’s certificate or
Marriage Officers’ certificates, each of the parties shall give
notice of the intended marriage, in the form set out in Schedule D
(making the declaration therein contained), to the Marriage Officer
of the congregation to which he or she respectively belongs or is
considered to be attached, or if not belonging or not considered to
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be attached to any congregation then to any Marriage Officer in the
district in which he or she has respectively resided for not less
than seven days next preceding the date of such notice. However,
when each of the parties to the intended marriage belongs to the
same congregation a single notice shall be sufficient.
(2) On receipt of a notice of an intended marriage, the
Marriage Officer shall forthwith enter the particulars set forth in
the notice, and also the date of the receipt of the notice, in a book
to be kept by him and to be called the “Marriage Banns Book”,
and shall place a copy of such notice for a period extending over
two Sundays from the date of its receipt on a notice board to be
kept affixed on the outside of the principal door of the place of
worship at which he acts as minister of religion.
(3) The Marriage Officer shall also, by himself or by
some other person by him duly authorised, publish the banns of
marriage between the parties named in the notice in the place of
public worship at which he acts as minister of religion. The
publication shall be made in an audible manner sometime during
divine service on a Sunday, and shall be as nearly as may be in
the form set out in Schedule E, and shall be made for two
Sundays, during morning or evening service.
17. (1) Every Marriage Officer shall forthwith transmit
to the Registrar of Marriages a copy of every entry which is made
by him as provided in section 16, and the Registrar of Marriages
shall, on the receipt of such entry, file and preserve the same
among the records of his office.
(2) Any Marriage Officer who, without reasonable cause
or excuse, fails to transmit to the Registrar of Marriages a copy of
any entry in accordance with this section is liable on summary
conviction for every such offence, to a fine of two hundred dollars.
18. At any time after publication of banns is complete and
before the expiration of six months from the entry of notice, the
Marriage Officer, upon being requested so to do by or on behalf
of the party by whom the notice was given, and in case no lawful
Schedule E.
Marriage
Officer to send
copies of entries
to Registrar.
Issue of
Marriage
Officer’s
certificate.
[51/1980].
10 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 11
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Schedule F.
Procedure by
licence from the
Minister.
[2/1963
51/1980
6 of 1993
4 of 2013].
Schedule G.
Residential
requirement for
non-residents.
[32 of 1996].
impediment is shown to the satisfaction of such Marriage Officer
why the certificate should not issue, and in case no caveat has
been entered against the issue of such certificate in the manner
hereinafter mentioned, shall issue under his hand a certificate
according to the form given in Schedule F, and every such
certificate shall state the particulars set forth in the notice, and the
date on which the notice was entered, and that no caveat has
been entered against the issue of such certificate, and that the
banns have been published in the manner required by this Act;
and for every such certificate the Marriage Officer shall be
entitled to a fee of fifty cents.
19. In the case of persons residing in Trinidad and Tobago
intending that a marriage shall be solemnised between them, the
Minister may, if he thinks fit, dispense with the giving of notice,
and with the issue of the certificate of a District Registrar or a
Marriage Officer, and grant his licence, which shall be in the
form set out in Schedule G or to the like effect, authorising the
solemnisation of marriage between the parties named in the
licence. However, before any such licence is issued, one of the
parties to the intended marriage shall appear personally before
the Registrar of Marriages, and shall make affidavit or solemn
declaration that there is not any impediment of consanguinity or
affinity or other lawful hindrance to the said marriage, and either
that the consent of the person or persons whose consent to such
marriage is required by law has been obtained, or that no such
consent is required, or that such marriage has been authorised by
the Chief Justice as provided below; and for every such licence
the party requiring it shall pay the sum of one hundred dollars to
the Registrar of Marriages.
Every such affidavit or declaration shall be preserved by the
Registrar of Marriages among the records of his office.
19A. (1) In the case of two non-resident parties intending that
a marriage shall be solemnised between them, each party shall be
present in Trinidad and Tobago for not less than three days prior
to the time of the marriage.
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Schedule G.
Ch. 6:52.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) the requisite
three-day period shall run from the day after the date of arrival of
the respective parties.
(3) Parties to whom subsection (1) applies shall, on
payment of a fee of three hundred dollars, be granted a
Special Licence signed by the Registrar of Marriages or
District Registrar and such Special Licence shall be in the form
set out in Schedule G and shall authorise the solemnisation of
the marriage between the parties named in the Special Licence.
(4) Before a marriage can be solemnised, both parties
shall appear personally before the Registrar of Marriages or
District Registrar not less than twenty-four hours before the
intended time of the marriage and shall each make an affidavit
or statutory declaration that by the law of the respective domicile
of each of the parties—
(a) there is no impediment of consanguinity or
affinity or other lawful hindrance to the said
marriage; and
(b) either that the consent of the person or persons
whose consent to marriage is required by law
has been obtained or that no such consent
is required.
(5) The Minister may, by Order, prescribe such
documents that shall be submitted in support of an affidavit or
statutory declaration made by each of the parties appearing
before the Registrar of Marriages or District Registrar.
(6) Notwithstanding the Commissioner of Affidavits
Act, for the purposes of subsection (4) every District Registrar
shall be ex officio a Commissioner of Affidavits.
(7) The District Registrar as a Commissioner of Affidavits
is subject to the provisions of the Commissioner of Affidavits Act.
(8) Every District Registrar, shall forthwith transmit to
the Registrar of Marriages a copy of every affidavit or declaration
made before him.
12 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 13
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Ch. 3:01.
Special
provisions in
cases where one
party to
intended
marriage does
not reside in
Trinidad and
Tobago.
[4 of 2013].
Schedule H.
Application for
authorisation
under
section 20.
[16 of 1962
2/1963
45 of 1979
51/1980
6 of 1993
4 of 2013].
(9) Every such affidavit or declaration shall be preserved
by the Registrar of Marriages among the records of his office.
(10) Section 25 of the Interpretation Act shall not apply to
this section.
20. (1) In any case in which one of the parties (referred to
below as the “resident party”) to a marriage intended to be
solemnised or contracted under this Act is resident in Trinidad and
Tobago and the other party to the intended marriage (hereinafter
referred to as the “non-resident party”) is not so resident, the
Minister or any person duly authorised by him may, if the
Minister or such authorised person thinks fit and if the provisions
of section 21 have been complied with, by a writing under his
hand (referred to below as “the Minister’s authority”), authorise
the District Registrar to whom notice of the intended marriage has
been given by the resident party to issue his certificate in
accordance with section 15 in respect of the non-resident party as
if notice had been given to him by the non-resident party jointly
with the resident party and as if the non-resident party had the
residential qualification prescribed in section 13.
(2) The authority mentioned in subsection (1) (referred
to below as “the Minister’s authority”) shall be, as nearly as may
be, in the form in Schedule H.
21. (1) Before the Minister’s authority is granted the
following conditions shall be complied with:
(a) the resident party must have given notice of the
intended marriage in the manner provided by
section 13 to the District Registrar of the district
within which he has previously resided for not
less than seven days next preceding the date of
such notice;
(b) not less than seven days but not more than five
months must have elapsed since the entry of the
notice referred to in paragraph (a);
(c) the resident party must have made application to
the Minister for his authority not later than five
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Schedule I.
Facilities for
marriages
between
Commonwealth
citizens resident
in the United
Kingdom and
Commonwealth
citizens resident
in Trinidad and
Tobago.
months after the entry of the notice referred to
in paragraph (a);
(d) the resident party must have paid to the officer
appointed by the Minister to receive the same
the sum of one hundred dollars for the issue of
the Minister’s authority.
(2) The application to the Minister shall state—
(a) the given names and surnames of both parties,
their respective profession, occupation and
place of residence;
(b) whether the parties or either of them have or has
been previously married;
(c) that no impediment of kindred or alliance or
other lawful cause to prevent the proposed
marriage is known to the applicant;
(d) that the resident party has resided in the district
in which the notice referred to in subsection
(l)(a) has been given, for not less than seven
days next preceding the date of the notice;
(e) where either of the parties, not being a widower
or widow, is under the age of eighteen years,
that the consent of the person or persons whose
consent to the marriage is required under this
Act has been obtained.
(3) The application referred to in subsection 1(c) shall
be signed by the resident party and shall be accompanied by a
statutory declaration made by him before the Registrar of
Marriages in the form set out in Schedule I.
22. (1) Where a marriage is intended to be solemnised or
contracted in Trinidad and Tobago between a Commonwealth
citizen resident in Trinidad and Tobago and a Commonwealth
citizen resident in the United Kingdom, a certificate for marriage
lawfully issued in any part of the United Kingdom, as the case
may be, shall have the same effect as a certificate issued by a
District Registrar or a Marriage Officer in Trinidad and Tobago.
14 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 15
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Consent to
marriage of
minors.
[17 of 1981].
(2) Where a marriage is intended to be solemnised or
contracted in the United Kingdom between a Commonwealth
citizen resident in Trinidad and Tobago and a Commonwealth
citizen resident in the United Kingdom, a certificate may be
issued in Trinidad and Tobago by a District Registrar or a
Marriage Officer in the like manner as if the marriage was to be
solemnised or contracted under circumstances requiring the issue
of such certificate, and as if both such Commonwealth citizens
were resident in Trinidad and Tobago.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the
expression “certificate of marriage lawfully issued” means—
(a) in the case of England, a certificate for marriage
issued by a Superintendent Registrar;
(b) in the case of Scotland, a certificate for marriage
issued by a Registrar or a Certificate of
Proclamation of Banns;
(c) in the case of Northern Ireland, a certificate for
marriage issued by a Registrar.
CONSENT TO MARRIAGE
23. Consent to the marriage of a minor shall be obtained in
accordance with the following provisions:
(a) if both the minor’s parents are alive and
living together, consent shall be obtained from
both parents;
(b) if the minor’s parents are living apart and he is
living with one parent, consent shall be obtained
from the parent with whom he is living;
(c) if the parents are living apart and the minor is not
living with either, consent shall be obtained from
both parents unless the consent of one parent is
dispensed with by a Judge of the High Court;
(d) if one of the parents is dead consent shall be
obtained from the surviving parent and any
other person who is the legal guardian of
the minor;
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(e) if both parents are dead consent shall be
obtained from any person who is the legal
guardian of the minor.
24. In case any person whose consent is required by law
to any marriage, is absent from Trinidad and Tobago, or is unable
or refuses to give such consent, or is of unsound mind or in any
other case where the Court sees fit the persons desirous of
contracting such marriage may apply by Petition to a Judge of the
High Court who may proceed upon the Petition in a summary
way, and, in case the marriage proposed shall upon examination
appear to him to be proper, the Judge shall judicially declare by
order in writing that such marriage may be solemnised and the
order shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed equivalent to
such consent as aforesaid.
CAVEATS
25. Any person whose consent to a marriage is hereby
required, or who may know of any just cause why the marriage
should not take place, may, on payment of twenty-five dollars
enter a caveat against the issue of a District Registrar’s or
Marriage Officer’s certificate in the following manner:
(a) if the marriage is intended to be solemnised
under the authority of a District Registrar’s
certificate, the person shall, at any time before
the issue of the certificate, write the word
“Forbidden” opposite to the entry of the notice in
the Marriage Notice Book, and append thereto
his name and place of abode, and the grounds
upon which he claims to forbid the marriage;
(b) if the marriage is intended to be solemnised
under the authority of a Marriage Officer’s
certificate, the person shall give notice in writing
to the person publishing the banns that he forbids
the marriage, and append to such notice his name
and place of abode, and the grounds upon which
he claims to forbid the marriage. The person
Power of Judge
to dispense with
consent.
[17 of 1981].
Objections to
marriage.
[2/1963
51/1980
6 of 1993].
16 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 17
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
publishing the banns, if he is not the Marriage
Officer, shall forthwith forward such notice to
the Marriage Officer and the Marriage Officer
shall record in the Marriage Banns Book the fact
and date of the receipt of the notice forbidding
the marriage.
No District Registrar or Marriage Officer shall issue his
certificate until such caveat has been removed in the manner
provided below.
26. (1) Whenever a caveat is entered against the issue of a
District Registrar’s or Marriage Officer’s certificate, the District
Registrar or Marriage Officer, as the case may be, shall forthwith
refer the matter to the Chief Justice.
(2) If the Chief Justice is of opinion that no legal
ground has been disclosed in the caveat for forbidding the issue
of the certificate, he may remove the caveat in the manner
hereinafter provided without requiring any of the parties to appear.
(3) In other cases, the Chief Justice shall summon the
parties to the intended marriage and the person by whom the
caveat has been entered, and shall require such last named person
to show cause why the District Registrar or Marriage Officer, as
the case may be, should not in due course issue his certificate.
(4) Every such matter shall be heard and determined in a
summary manner, and the Chief Justice may award compensation
and costs to the party against whom the caveat was entered, if it
appears that the caveat was entered on insufficient grounds.
27. (1) If the Chief Justice decides that the certificate ought
to issue, he shall remove the caveat by a declaration under his
hand that the intended marriage is proper and may be solemnised;
and a certified copy of such declaration shall be forwarded to the
District Registrar or Marriage Officer, as the case may be, by
whom the caveat was referred.
(2) On the removal of the caveat, the District Registrar
or Marriage Officer, as the case may be, may issue his certificate
in due course, and the marriage may proceed as if the caveat
When caveat
entered, matter
to be referred to
Chief Justice.
Removal of
caveat.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
had not been entered, but the time which has lapsed between the
entering and removal of the caveat shall not be computed in the
period of six months specified in sections 15 and 18.
SOLEMNISATION OF MARRIAGE
28. On the delivery of the certificate of a District Registrar,
or in case the parties have given notice to the District
Registrars of different districts then on the delivery of the
certificate of each such District Registrar, or on the delivery of
the certificate of a Marriage Officer, or in case the parties have
given notice to different Marriage Officers then on the delivery
of the certificate of each such Marriage Officer, or on the delivery
of a licence from the Minister, or on the delivery of a Special
Licence from the Registrar of Marriages or District Registrar to
any Marriage Officer, the Marriage Officer may solemnise a
marriage between the parties named in the certificate or
certificates or licence, as the case may be. However, such
marriage shall be solemnised with open doors between the hours
of six o’clock in the forenoon and six o’clock in the afternoon of
the same day, and in the presence of two or more credible
witnesses beside the said Marriage Officer.
29. (1) On the delivery of the certificate of a District Registrar,
or in case the parties shall have given notice to the District
Registrars of different districts then on the delivery of the
certificate of each such District Registrar, or on the delivery of the
certificate of a Marriage Officer, or in case the parties have given
notice to different Marriage Officers then on the delivery of the
certificate of each such Marriage Officer, or on the delivery of a
licence from the Minister, or on the delivery of a Special Licence
from the Registrar of Marriages or District Registrar, to any District
Registrar, the parties named in the certificate or certificates or
licence, as the case may be, may, if they see fit, contract a marriage.
(2) A marriage shall be solemnised with open doors by
a District Registrar in the presence of two or more credible
witnesses between the hours of ten o’clock in the forenoon and
four o’clock in the afternoon of the same day.
Marriages
before Marriage
Officer.
[32 of 1996
4 of 2013].
Marriages
before District
Registrar.
[32 of 1996
4 of 2013].
18 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Marriage Chap. 45:01 19
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
30. Whenever a marriage has not taken place within six
months after the entry of notice thereof or after the granting of a
licence from the Minister under section 19 or a Special Licence
under section 19A, the notice or licence, as the case may be, and
all other proceedings shall thereupon be utterly void, and no
Marriage Officer shall proceed to solemnise the marriage, nor shall
the marriage be contracted before a District Registrar, until new
notice has been given and entry made and certificate issued or a
new or Special Licence has been granted in the manner aforesaid.
31. Where any party to a marriage commonly uses any other
language than English, then the forms and declarations hereby
required to be used in the ceremony shall be made in such other
language, so always that the words used shall express the true
intent and meaning of such forms and declarations.
32. After any marriage has been solemnised or contracted in
the manner provided in this Act it shall not be necessary in support
of the marriage to give any proof of the actual dwelling or of the
period of dwelling of either of the parties in the district mentioned
in a notice of marriage previous to the giving of the notice, nor of
the consent of any person whose consent thereunto is required by
law, nor shall any evidence be given to prove the contrary.
33. (1) No Marriage Officer shall be compellable to accept
notice of marriage from, or to enter or publish the banns of, or to
issue a Marriage Officer’s certificate to, or to solemnise marriage
between, persons either of whom is not a member of his own
communion, nor otherwise than according to the rules or custom
of such communion, nor unless he is satisfied by the declaration
of the parties or otherwise that the proposed marriage is
consistent with such rules or custom.
(2) No minister of the Christian religion shall be
compelled to publish the banns of marriage or to solemnise the
marriage of any person whose former marriage has been dissolved
by a judicial decree, where the other party to the former marriage
is still living, nor shall any such minister be compelled to permit
the use of any church or chapel under his control for publishing
Notices and
licences void
unless marriage
takes place
within six
months.
[32 of 1996
4 of 2013].
Use of other
than English
language.
Proof of certain
matters not
required after
marriage.
When Marriage
Officer not
compellable to
marry.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
any such banns or solemnising the marriage of any such person,
nor shall any such minister be liable to any suit, proceeding or
penalty for refusing to publish any such banns or for refusing to
solemnise any such marriage or for refusing to permit the use of
any such church or chapel for any such purposes aforesaid.
(3) No minister of the Christian religion is liable to any
suits, proceedings or penalties for publishing any such banns or
solemnising the marriage of any such person as mentioned above
or for permitting the use of any such church or chapel for any of
those purposes. However, nothing in this section shall relieve any
such minister from any ecclesiastical proceeding or censure to
which by reason of his publishing any such banns or solemnising
any such marriage or permitting the use of any such church or
chapel for any of the purposes mentioned above he is or from
time to time hereafter may be liable according to the doctrine,
practice, usage or rules of any such religion.
REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE
34. (1) Immediately after the solemnisation or contracting
of any marriage, the officiating Marriage Officer or the District
Registrar, as the case may be, shall enter in a book to be called
the “Marriage Register Book” a statement of the said marriage in
the form set out in Schedule J, which entry shall be signed by the
Marriage Officer or District Registrar, as the case may be, and by
the parties to the marriage and by two credible witnesses of the
said marriage, and every such Marriage Officer and every
District Registrar (not being the Registrar of Marriages) shall
forthwith transmit to the Registrar of Marriages a duplicate of
such statement similarly signed, and all such duplicate statements
shall be filed by the Registrar of Marriages and preserved among
the records of his office.
(2) Any Marriage Officer or District Registrar who,
without reasonable cause or excuse, fails to transmit to the
Registrar of Marriages any statement in accordance with the
provisions of this section is liable on summary conviction to a
fine of four hundred dollars.
Marriage to be
entered in
register and
duplicate sent to
Registrar.
Schedule J.
20 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Marriage Chap. 45:01 21
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
35. Any person may at all reasonable times search the entries
in any Marriage Register Book or any file of statements kept by
the Registrar or any District Registrar or any Marriage Officer,
and have true copies, certified under the hand of the Registrar,
District Registrar, or Marriage Officer, of any of the entries or
statements. However, before allowing any search or furnishing
any certified copy, the Registrar, District Registrar, or Marriage
Officer, as the case may be, shall be entitled to demand the
following fees:
For every search … … … … … $12.50
For every certified copy as aforesaid … … $12.50
For a general search not directed to any
particular entry … … … … … $30.00
VOID MARRIAGES
36. (1) If any person knowingly and wilfully intermarries
under the provisions of this Act, without due notice given in
accordance with section 13 or section 16 or without a certificate
under section 15 or 18 having been duly issued, or without a
licence issued under this Act, the marriage of such persons shall
be null and void.
(2) If any persons to any marriage are within the
prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity according to the
law of England in force on 30th August 1962 the marriage of
such persons shall be null and void.
OFFENCES
37. Every person who knowingly and wilfully forges or alters
or falsely makes or procures to be forged or altered or falsely made,
or shall offer, utter, or dispose of, knowing the same to have been
forged or altered or falsely made, any register book or any notice,
licence, certificate, entry, or statement mentioned in this Act, or
any certified copy thereof respectively, or wilfully inserts or causes
to be inserted in any register book or certified copy thereof any
false entry or marriage, or wilfully gives any false certificate, or
Searches and
certified copies.
[2/1963
11 of 1988
6 of 1993].
Void marriages.
Forging or
altering register
book, notice,
etc.
Making false
entries, giving
false
certificates.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
certifies any writing to be a copy or extract of any register book,
knowing the same to be false in any part thereof, or forges or
counterfeits the seal of the Registrar General, is liable on
conviction on indictment to imprisonment for seven years.
38. Every person who unlawfully and maliciously destroys
or injures or causes to be destroyed or injured, any register book
or any notice, licence, certificate, entry, or statement mentioned
in this Act, or any certified copy thereof respectively, is liable on
conviction on indictment to imprisonment for three years.
39. Any person having the custody of any register book or
certified copy thereof or of any part thereof, who carelessly loses
or injures the same or carelessly allows the same to be injured
whilst in his keeping, is liable to a fine of two thousand dollars.
40. Every District Registrar or Marriage Officer who
knowingly and wilfully issues any certificate for the marriage
of any persons being within the prohibited degrees of
consanguinity or affinity according to the law of England in
force on 30th August 1962 is liable on conviction on
indictment to imprisonment for three years.
41. Any minister of religion who knowingly and wilfully
solemnises any marriage without being licensed as a Marriage
Officer under the provisions of this Act, and any Marriage
Officer or District Registrar who solemnises any marriage or
allows any marriage to be contracted in his presence before the
issue of a certificate or granting of a licence from the Minister, or
a Special Licence from the Registrar of Marriages or District
Registrar, or after the expiration of six months from the entry
of notice or granting of such licence, or who knowingly and
wilfully issues any certificate of marriage except within the
period allowed by this Act for issuing the same, or any
certificate against the issue of which a caveat has been entered
until such caveat has been duly removed in the manner
provided above, is liable on conviction on indictment to
imprisonment for three years.
Forged seal.
Destroying or
injuring register
book, etc.
Losing or
injuring
document.
Issuing of
certificate to
person within
prohibited
degrees.
Offences by
Marriage
Officers and
District
Registrars.
[32 of 1996
4 of 2013].
22 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Marriage Chap. 45:01 23
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
MARRIAGE IN EXTREMIS
42. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, any
Marriage Officer may perform the ceremony of marriage
between persons, without notice being given of the intended
marriage of such persons, or without a certificate duly issued, or
before the issue of such certificate, or after the expiration of six
months from the entry of notice of such marriage, if both the
parties between whom the ceremony of marriage is performed
are, at the time of the performance thereof, legally competent to
contract marriage and are of full age, and also that one at least of
them, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Marriage
Officer and of the other persons signing the certificate hereinafter
required shall be, at the time of the performance of such
ceremony, in a dying state, and that such dying person is a
member of the religious communion or denomination to which
such Marriage Officer belongs.
(2) Immediately after the solemnisation of any such
marriage, the officiating Marriage Officer shall transmit to the
Registrar of Marriages a certificate of the said marriage in the
form set out in Schedule K, signed by the Marriage Officer and
by two credible witnesses present at the said marriage. Such
statement shall be filed by the Registrar in a register to be
specially kept for the purpose.
(3) Subject to the observance of the foregoing
conditions, a marriage solemnised under this section shall be
good and effectual in law.
(4) No marriage solemnised under this section shall
operate as a revocation of any Will.
MISCELLANEOUS
43. (1) If any valid marriage is had under this Act by means
of any wilfully false notice, oath or declaration made by either
party to the marriage as to any matter as to which a notice, oath or
declaration is herein required, it shall be lawful for the Attorney
General, by information on the relation of a parent or guardian of
Marriage in
extremis.
Schedule K.
Forfeiture of
property
acquired by
marriage had by
fraudulent
means.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
a minor whose consent has not been given to such marriage, and
who shall be responsible for any costs incurred in such suit, such
parent or guardian previously making oath as required below, to
sue for a forfeiture of all estate or interest in any property
accruing to the offending party by such marriage.
(2) The High Court shall have power in such suit to
declare such forfeiture and thereupon direct that all such estate
and interest, or any such part thereof as the Court thinks fit, shall
be secured, in such manner as to the Court shall seem fit, for the
benefit of the innocent party, and the issue of the marriage or any
of them, or if both parties to the marriage are, in the judgment
of the Court, guilty of any such offence as aforesaid then for the
benefit of the issue of the marriage, subject to such provisions
for the offending parties by way of maintenance or otherwise as
the said Court thinks reasonable.
(3) No such suit shall be instituted unless it has been
first made out to the satisfaction of the Attorney General by the
oath of some person whose consent was required by law to the
said marriage that the circumstances of the case are such as to
authorise the institution of such proceedings, and that the consent
required by law for such marriage had not been obtained, and that
the person making such oath had not discovered that the said
marriage had been contracted more than six months before
making such oath.
44. No prosecution for any indictable offence under this Act
shall be commenced after the expiration of three years after the
offence has been committed, nor without the written consent of
the Director of Public Prosecutions.
45. All pecuniary penalties under this Act recoverable on
summary conviction, may be recovered on complaint in the name
of any person authorised in that behalf by writing under the hand
of the Director of Public Prosecutions at any time not more than
twelve months after such offence has been committed.
*46. All fees received by the Registrar or District Registrars
or the Minister under this Act shall be paid into public funds.
Limitation.
[172/1961
136/1976].
Recovery of
penalties.
[172/1961
136/1976].
Fees payable
into public
funds.
24 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
*Amended by implication by Act No. 16 of 1962.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Marriage Chap. 45:01 25
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Evidence.
Annual
abstract.
Validation.
Amendment of
the Schedules.
[4 of 2013].
Delegation of
powers.
[4 of 2013].
Orders made
under sections
50 and 51 to be
laid before
Parliament.
[4 of 2013].
47. All certified copies of entries purporting to be sealed or
stamped with the seal of the Registrar General shall be received as
evidence of the marriages to which the same relate without any
further or other proof of such entry and no certified copy purporting
to be given in the office of the Registrar of Marriages shall be of any
force or effect which is not sealed or stamped as aforesaid.
48. The Registrar General shall send, once in every year, to
the President a general abstract of the number of marriages
registered during the twelve months ending on the last day of
December then immediately preceding, in such form as the
President from time to time shall require; and every such annual
general abstract shall be laid before Parliament at its next
meeting after the receipt thereof.
49. No marriage solemnised or contracted under this Act,
other than a marriage heretofore adjudged to be void by a Court of
competent jurisdiction, shall be, or be deemed to have been, invalid
by reason only that a licence issued under section 20 prior to
12th August 1943, was issued less than two clear days after
application therefor had been made or that a District Registrar’s
certificate was issued in compliance with such licence less than
seven days after the time of entry of notice of marriage given to
such District Registrar under section 13 by one of the parties to
the marriage.
50. The Registrar General may, subject to the approval of the
Minister, by Order, amend any of the forms contained in the
Schedules to this Act or prescribe such new forms as may be
required to give effect to this Act.
51. The Minister may by Order delegate to the Registrar
General any of his powers under this Act, except this power of
delegation or any other power delegated to him under this Act.
52. Any Order made in pursuance of section 50 or 51 shall
be laid before Parliament within thirty days after the issue of
the same.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Section 7. SCHEDULE A
LICENCE TO BE A MARRIAGE OFFICER
A. B. being a Minister of Religion of (a) ............. residing at ........................
and officiating at (b) .................... (c) ....................... is hereby licensed as a
Marriage Officer for the purposes of the Marriage Act.
...............................
President
(a) State religious denomination.
(b) State place of public worship in which applicant acts as minister (if any).
(c) State city, borough, town, or ward where place of worship is situated.
26 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Marriage Chap. 45:01 27
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Section 13.
*To form part of the declaration when the party is under eighteen years of age and is not a
widower or widow, otherwise to be deleted.
SCHEDULE B
FORM 1
(Applicable to the case of parties residing in different districts or giving
separate notices).
NOTICE TO DISTRICT REGISTRAR
To the District Registrar of the district of .......................................................
I .............................[Here insert the name of the person giving notice] give
you notice that a Marriage is intended to be had between me and the other
party herein named and described, that is to say—
And I give this notice with the assent of the other party herein named
and described.
And I solemnly declare that I have for seven days, immediately preceding
the date of this notice, had my usual place of abode within the above-mentioned
district of ........................... and that I believe there is no impediment of kindred
or alliance or other lawful hindrance to the said Marriage.
*And I solemnly declare that I have the consent of all whose consent is
necessary for my marriage, namely: [Here state names and authority of all
whose consent is necessary].
In witness whereof I have hereunto set and subscribed my hand
this........................ day of............................................., 20...... .
.............................................
Signature
Dwelling placeAge Length of residenceCallingCondition
Name and
Surname
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
FORM 2
(Applicable to the case of parties residing in the same district and giving a
single notice).
NOTICE TO DISTRICT REGISTRAR
To the District Registrar of the district of ......................................................
We ..................... [Here insert the names of the persons giving notice]
give you notice that a Marriage is intended to be had between us, the parties
herein named and described, that is to say—
And we solemnly declare that we have for seven days immediately
preceding the date of this notice had our usual place of abode and residence
within the above-mentioned district of ........................ , and that we believe
there is no impediment of kindred or alliance or other lawful hindrance to the
said Marriage.
*And we solemnly declare that we each have the consent of all whose
consent is necessary for our marriage, namely: [Here state names and
authority of all whose consent is necessary].
In witness whereof we have hereunto set and subscribed our hands this
.................... day of ....................................... , 20..... .
.............................................
Signatures
*To form part of the declaration when either of the parties is under eighteen years of age and is
not a widower or widow, otherwise to be deleted.
Length of
residenceDwelling placeAgeCallingConditions
Name and
Surname
28 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
SCHEDULE C
REGISTRAR’S CERTIFICATE
I .....................District Registrar of Marriages for ....................... do hereby
certify that on the .............. day of ................................... , 20....... , notice was
duly entered in the Marriage Notice Book of the said District, of the marriage
intended between the parties hereunder named and described.
Date of Notice entered ..................... day of ..................................., 20....... .
Date of Certificate given ................ day of ....................................., 20....... .
No caveat has been entered against the issue of this certificate
or [as the case may be]
A caveat was entered against the issue of this certificate on the ...................
day of .............................., 20.........., but was removed on the ............... day of
......................................., 20.......... , by the Chief Justice.
Witness my hand this .................... day of ........................................, 20......
.
........................................
Signed
Registrar for District of ...................................
N.B.—This certificate will be void unless the marriage is solemnised on
or before the .................... day of ................................., 20 ......... , next.
Marriage Chap. 45:01 29
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Section 15.
Length
of
residence
Consent,
if any, by
whom given
Dwelling
placeAgeProfessionCondition
Name and
Surname (if any)
at full length
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
SCHEDULE D
FORM 1
(Applicable to the case of parties belonging to different congregations or
giving separate notices).
NOTICE FOR BANNS
To ............................. Minister of ........................ Church [or Chapel] in the
District of ..................................................... and a Marriage Officer.
I ................. [Here insert the name of the person giving notice] being a
member of the congregation of the said Church [or Chapel] give you notice that
a Marriage is intended between me and the other party herein named and
described, and that I desire you to publish the banns of such Marriage on two
Sundays beginning with Sunday the ............ day of ..........................., 20......, next.
And I give this notice with the assent of the other party herein named
and described.
And I solemnly declare that I believe there is no impediment of kindred
or alliance or other lawful hindrance to the said Marriage.
*And I solemnly declare that I have the consent of all whose consent is
necessary for my marriage, namely: [Here state names and authority of all
whose consent is necessary].
In witness whereof I have hereunto set and subscribed my hand this ..............
day of ........................................, 20..... .
........................................
Signature
*To form part of the declaration when the party is under eighteen years of age and is not a widower
or widow, otherwise to be deleted.
Name and Surname Condition Calling Age Dwelling place
Section 16.
30 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
FORM 2
(Applicable to the case of parties belonging to the same congregation and
giving a single notice).
NOTICE FOR BANNS
To ....................... Minister of .................................... Church [or Chapel] in
the District of .................................... and a Marriage Officer.
We ............................. [Here insert the names of the persons giving notice],
being members of the congregation of the said Church [or Chapel] give you
notice that a Marriage is intended between us, the parties herein named and
described, and that we desire you to publish the banns of such Marriage in
your Church [or Chapel] on two Sundays beginning with Sunday the ............
day of .........................................., 20 ........ , next.
And we solemnly declare that we believe there is no impediment of kindred
or alliance or other lawful hindrance to the said Marriage.
*And we solemnly declare that we each have the consent of all whose
consent is necessary for our marriage, namely: [Here state names and
authority of all whose consent is necessary].
In witness whereof we have hereunto set and subscribed our hands this
........... day of ....................................., 20..... .
.....................................
Signatures
Marriage Chap. 45:01 31
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
*To form part of the declaration when either of the parties is under eighteen years of age and is
not a widower or widow, otherwise to be deleted.
Name and Surname Condition Calling Age Dwelling place
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Section 16. SCHEDULE E
FORM OF WORDS TO BE USED IN THE
PUBLICATION OF BANNS
I publish the Banns of Marriage between A.B. of ..................... [Here state
the parish as stated in the notice] and C.D. of .......................... [Here state the
parish as stated in the notice].
If any of you know any cause or just impediment why these two persons
should not be joined together in holy matrimony ye are to declare it.
This is the first [or second, as the case may be] time of asking.
32 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
SCHEDULE F
MARRIAGE OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
I .................... Minister of .................................. Church [or Chapel] in the
District of ................................... and a Marriage Officer do hereby certify that
on the ............. day of......................................., 20......, notice was duly entered in
the Marriage Banns Book of the said Church [or Chapel] of the marriage
intended between the parties hereunder named and described.
Date of notice entered ................... day of ....................................... , 20...... .
Date of certificate given ................. day of ......................................., 20...... .
No caveat has been entered against the issue of this certificate
or [as the case may be]
A caveat was entered against the issue of this certificate on the ............ day
of ........................................, 20....... , but was removed on the ........... day
of.........................................., 20....... , by the Chief Justice.
The Banns of Marriage have been published in the manner required by the
Marriage Act.
Witness my hand this .................. day of .......................................... , 20..... .
..........................................
Signed
Minister of .................... Church [or Chapel]
in the District of ...................... and a
Marriage Officer.
N.B.—This certificate will be void unless the marriage is solemnised on or
before the ...................... day of .........................................., 20..... , next.
Marriage Chap. 45:01 33
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Section 18.
Name and Surname Condition Calling Age Dwelling-place
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Section 19.
[159/2013].
Section 20.
[159/2013].
SCHEDULE G
MINISTER’S LICENCE
TO ANY DISTRICT REGISTRAR OR MARRIAGE OFFICER
THESE are to license and permit you to solemnise a marriage between
............................................................................................................................
............................................................ and .........................................................
............................................................................................................................
according to the provisions of the Marriage Act, you knowing no lawful
impediment to the contrary.
Given under my hand at ....................................................................... this
.................. day of .........................................., 20......
For and on behalf of the Minister of Legal Affairs
....................................................................
Registrar General
N.B.—This Licence will be void unless the marriage is solemnised on or before
the ............. day of ............................., 20.......
34 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
SCHEDULE H
MINISTER’S AUTHORITY
To the District Registrar of .................................................................... district.
WHEREAS ................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
has given notice to the District Registrar of .......................................................
.......................................................... district of his/her intended marriage with
.................................................................................................. and whereas the
said ............................................................................................... has not given
notice of his/her intended marriage because he/she was not resident in the
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Marriage Chap. 45:01 35
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Section 21.
territory and whereas a period of not less than seven days and not more than
five months has elapsed since the giving of notice as aforesaid, and
whereas application has been made to the Minister by the said
.............................................................................. for the grant of the Marriage
Licence under section 20 of the Marriage Act.
I hereby authorise the District Registrar of .................................... district
to issue his certificate under section 15 of the said Act in respect of the said
............................................................................ as if he/she has duly given
notice under section 13 of the said Act jointly with the said
............................................................................................. and as if
the said ............................................................................................
has resided in the ......................................................... district during the seven
days immediately preceding the giving of such notice.
Given under my hand at Port-of-Spain this ..................................... day of
.........................................., 20.........
For and on behalf of the Minister of Legal Affairs
....................................................................
Registrar General
SCHEDULE I
I .................., do solemnly and sincerely declare that the statements made
in my application hereto attached and marked A are true and correct.
I make this declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and
according to the Statutory Declarations Act, and I am aware that if there is any
statement in this declaration which is false in fact which I know or believe to
be false or do not believe to be true I am liable to fine and imprisonment.
Declared before me this ................ day of ......................................., 20.........
.................................................
Registrar of Marriages
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
Section 34.
[159/2013]. SCHEDULE J
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
36 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Issued pursuant to the Marriage Act, Chap. 45:01
Name of Bride: Name of Groom:
Age: Age:
Marital Status: Marital Status:
Rank/Profession: Rank/Profession:
Address: Address:
Date of Marriage: Witness:
Marriage Type: CIVIL Witness:
Place of Marriage: Witness:
Name of Marriage Officer:
District Registrar:
Registration/Entry No.:
Issued under my Hand and Seal of Office
this .......... day of .........................., 20.....
..............................
CERTIFIED TRUE AND CORRECT Registrar General
EXTRACT FROM THE REGISTER OF
MARRIAGES, HELD BY THE REGISTRAR
GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
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Marriage Chap. 45:01 37
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
L.R.O.
Section 42.SCHEDULE K
MARRIAGE IN EXTREMIS
I, the undersigned ...................... Marriage Officer of (1) ...................... and we,
the undersigned ............................. of (2) ........................... and .........................
of (2) ..................... being of the age of eighteen years and upwards do hereby
certify that on the ..................... day of ..........................., 20..... , the Ceremony
of Marriage was performed by me the said ...................... in the presence of us
the said ................ and ...................... between ..................... of ..................... (3)
................................ and .................................... of ......................................... (4)
............................. and that both the said ............................. and ........................
at the time of the performance of such ceremony were legally compentent to
contract marriage, and were of full age, and that the said (5) .........................
was a member of the same religious communion or denomination to which the
said (6) ..................... belongs, that is to say, the (7) .............................; and that
at the time of the performance of such ceremony, the said (8) ............................
was, to the best of our knowledge and belief, in a dying state.
......................................
Signatures
(1) Residence.
(2) Residence and Profession.
(3) State whether bachelor or widower.
(4) State whether spinster or widow.
(5) Name of party in dying state.
(6) Name of Marriage Officer.
(7) Religious communion or denomination.
(8) Name of party in dying state.
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
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38 Chap. 45:01 Marriage
LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
188/1996.
Citation.
Documents
required.
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
MARRIAGE (DOCUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF AFFIDAVIT
OR STATUTORY DECLARATION) ORDER
made under section 19A
1. This Order may be cited as the Marriage (Documents in
Support of Affidavit or Statutory Declaration) Order.
2. Each of the parties appearing before the Registrar of
Marriages or District Registrar shall submit the following
documents in support of an affidavit or statutory declaration:
(a) where applicable, certified copies (or translation
into English) of final divorce decree or death
certificate of former or deceased spouse;
(b) proof of entry documentation (e.g., Passport,
Immigration Card, Airline Ticket).
UNOFFICIAL VERSION
UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014
MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt
