Genealogy Chat

lovely. Thank you for all your hard work. Its good to get help. Thanks

I knew I'd seen it somewhere:

Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 (c.15)
13-(c) and 19-2-(c): two persons professing to be 16 years of age or over are present as witnesses.

It's unusual for Scotland to impose silly conditions, much more an English thing.

The Peterborough site listed by mgnv is actually incorrect in its use of the word must (be over 18, that is) Most Registrars prefer the witnesses to be over 16 or even 18, but there is no legal requirement.

The standard guidance is that a witness has to be capable of understanding the significance of what they are observing.

This is from the Stockton on Tees Borough Council website

The law requires a minimum of two witnesses. They can be family or friends, and although the law doesn't state a minimum age requirement we would ask that the witnesses are at least 16 years old. If you particularly wish to include a witness who is under 16, we would ask that you bring an extra witness who is of the required age.

Witnesses and Certificates
You must have two people with you to witness that the vows have been repeated and sign the register. These witnesses must be aged over 18 years and speak and understand English....

http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/community_information/marriages__civil_partnerships/arranging_a_marriage.aspx

One of my witnesses was 13 when I married in 2000.

Dianne xx

I think there's a modern requirement that the witness be 16 - maybe 50y since.
Strictly speaking, I think there should now be 2 witnesses 16+ y old, but I don't see why there can't be extra ones aged 10, or whatever.

lovely thanks for all your help folks.

Hi ,
I have a death cert ... and the mark of the informant
was of a 10 yr old girl.
That was in 1851 ..
Hazelx

Hi there, Is there anyone that can help please. How old did someone need to be before they could be a witness in a marriage in 1814. Think it is the son aged about 10. Thanks