Marriage Statute, 2026

ENACTED by the Koru of the Hokorian State under the authority of the Council of Officers Charter.

Part I- Preliminary

Section 1- Short Title

1. This Statute may be cited as the Marriage Statute, 2026.

Section 2- Commencement

1. This Statute shall come into force on a date appointed by the Koru of the Hokorian State.

Section 3- Interpretation

1. “State” means the Hokorian State.
2. “Marriage” means the union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.
3. “Celebrant” means a person authorised under this Statute to solemnise marriages.
4. “Registrar” means a civil registrar appointed by or under the authority of the Koru.
5. “Register” means the Marriage Register established under this Statute.
6. “Court” means a court recognised under the law of the State.

Part II- Capacity to Marry

Section 4- Eligibility

1. Marriage may take place between two persons without distinction as to sex, gender, sexuality, religion or belief.
2. A marriage must be monogamous.

Section 5- Minimum Age

1. A person must have attained the age of 18 years to marry.
2. A marriage in contravention of this section is void.

Section 6- Prohibited Relationships

1. A person may not marry another person who is related to them as:
   • parent and child;
   • grandparent and grandchild;
   • siblings including half siblings;
   • first or second cousins; or
   • aunt or uncle and niece or nephew.
2. Subsection (1) applies equally to relationships arising by birth, adoption, marriage or step relationship.
3. A marriage in contravention of this section is void.

Section 7- Consent

1. A marriage is void if either party did not freely and fully consent.
2. Consent is not freely and fully given where it is obtained by:
   • force;
   • coercion;
   • duress;
   • fraud as to identity; or
   • fraud as to the nature of the ceremony.
3. A marriage is voidable where a party lacked mental capacity to consent at the time of marriage.

Part III- Solemnisation and Registration

Section 8- Authorised Solemnisation

1. A marriage may be solemnised by:
   • a Registrar; or
   • a Celebrant authorised under this Statute.
2. The Koru may establish procedures for the authorisation of Celebrants, including nomination by religious bodies.

Section 9- Registration Requirement

1. Every marriage solemnised in the State must be entered in the Register.
2. A marriage is not recognised for any legal purpose within the State unless entered in the Register.
3. Failure to register a marriage does not render it void, but no rights or obligations under the law of the State attach to the marriage until registration.

Section 10- Marriage Register

1. The Koru shall establish and maintain a Marriage Register.
2. The Register may be maintained in electronic form.
3. The Koru may delegate responsibility for administration of the Register.

Part IV- Nullity

Section 11- Void Marriages

1. A marriage is void where:
   • either party was under the age of 18 at the time of marriage;
   • the parties fall within prohibited relationships;
   • either party was already lawfully married; or
   • there was no free and full consent.

Section 12- Voidable Marriages

1. A marriage is voidable where a party lacked mental capacity to consent at the time of marriage.
2. A voidable marriage remains valid unless and until annulled by order of the Court.

Section 13- Declaration of Nullity

1. Either party may apply to the Court for a declaration that a marriage is void or voidable.

Part V- Divorce

Section 14- Ground for Divorce

1. The sole ground for divorce is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
2. Irretrievable breakdown is established by a declaration by one or both parties.

Section 15- Minimum Period Before Application

1. An application for divorce may not be made within one year from the date of registration of the marriage.

Section 16- Application for Divorce

1. An application for divorce may be made by one party or jointly by both parties.
2. The Court shall grant a decree of divorce where satisfied that the requirements of this Part are met.

Section 17- Effect of Divorce

1. A decree of divorce dissolves the marriage from the date specified in the order of the Court.

Part VI- Recognition of Foreign Marriages

Section 18- Conditions for Recognition

1. A marriage solemnised outside the State is recognised where:
   • it was valid under the law of the place where it was celebrated;
   • both parties were aged 18 years or over at the time of marriage;
   • the marriage is monogamous; and
   • the parties are not within prohibited relationships under this Statute.
2. A foreign marriage has no legal effect within the State unless entered in the Register.
3. A foreign marriage is recognised at the discretion of the Registrar.

Part VII- Offences and Regulations

Section 19- False Information

1. A person commits an offence where that person knowingly provides false information for the purpose of registering a marriage.
2. Penalties shall be prescribed by regulation or other law.

Section 20- Regulations

1. Regulations may be made for the purposes of this Statute.
2. Regulations may prescribe:
   • procedures for solemnisation;
   • evidentiary requirements;
   • registration processes;
   • forms;
   • fees; and
   • administrative penalties.

Part VIII- Final Provisions

Section 21- Relationship to Other Law

1. This Statute operates subject to the Constitution, Constitutional Orders and Constitutional Charters of the State.
2. This Statute may be amended, suspended or repealed in accordance with the Council of Officers Charter.

Section 22- Transitional Provision

1. No marriage has legal effect within the State unless recognised or registered in accordance with this Statute.