Section 63A: Forced marriage protection orders

Family Law Act 1996 · 1996 c. 27View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 4A: Forced marriage

The court may make an order for the purposes of protecting—

a person from being forced into a marriage or from any attempt to be forced into a marriage; or
a person who has been forced into a marriage.

In deciding whether to exercise its powers under this section and, if so, in what manner, the court must have regard to all the circumstances including the need to secure the health, safety and well-being of the person to be protected.

In ascertaining that person's well-being, the court must, in particular, have such regard to the person's wishes and feelings (so far as they are reasonably ascertainable) as the court considers appropriate in the light of the person's age and understanding.

For the purposes of this Part a person ("A") is forced into a marriage if another person ("B") forces A to enter into a marriage (whether with B or another person) without A's free and full consent.

For the purposes of subsection (4) it does not matter whether the conduct of B which forces A to enter into a marriage is directed against A, B or another person.

In this Part—

  • "force" includes coerce by threats or other psychological means (and related expressions are to be read accordingly); and

  • "forced marriage protection order" means an order under this section.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.