Title 27 Laws of Bermuda Item 12

BERMUDA

1970 : 521

BAHA'I MARRIAGE ACT 1970

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1 Interpretation

2 Legality of Baha'i religious marriages

3 Governor may license Assembly Members as Marriage Officers

4 Application of Marriage Act 1944 to Baha'i marriages [24 December 1970]

[preamble and words of enactment omitted]

Interpretation

1 In this Act "Assembly Member" means a person of the Baha'i faith who is authorized by or under the rules and usages of that faith to celebrate marriages according to its rites and ceremonies.

Legality of Baha'i religious marriages

2 Subject to this Act, marriages may be celebrated in Bermuda according to the rites and ceremonies of the Baha'i faith; and any such marriages are hereinafter in this Act referred to as Baha'i marriages.

3. Governor may license Assembly Members as Marriage Officers

(1) The Governor acting in his discretion may grant a licence to any Assembly Member to be a Marriage Officer within Bermuda authorizing him to celebrate Baha'i marriages.

(2) The provisions of the Marriage Act 1944 [title 27 item 1], which relate to the grant of a licence to a minister to be a Marriage Officer and to the revocation or surrender of such a licence shall apply

1989 Revision 1 BAHA'I MARRIAGE ACT 1970

with necessary modification to the grant, by virtue of this section, of a licence to an Assembly Member and to the revocation and surrender thereof.

(3) Any Assembly Member to whom a licence is granted by virtue of this section is hereinafter in this Act referred to as a Baha'i Marriage Officer.

Application of Marriage Act 1944 to Baha'i marriages

4 The Marriage Act 1944 [title 27 item 1] (as amended by any subsequent Act), shall have effect—

(a) in relation to the celebration or intended celebration of Baha'i marriages and the powers and duties of Baha'i Marriage Officers as it has effect in relation to the celebration or intended celebration of Christian marriages and the powers and duties of Marriage Officers in connection therewith: Provided that where a Baha'i marriage is intended to be celebrated by a Baha'i Marriage Officer after the publication of banns, such banns shall be published as provided in the Marriage Act 1944 [title 27 item 1]; and

(b) in relation to the acts and omissions of persons who are parties to or otherwise concerned in the celebration or intended celebration of Baha'i marriages or any other matters relating to Baha'i marriages as it has effect in relation to the acts or omissions of persons who are parties to or are otherwise concerned in the celebration or intended celebration of Christian marriages or any other matters relating to Christian marriages.

2 1989 Revision