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[excerpts]

FAMILY LAW ACT, 1995

Age of marriage.

31.-(1) (a) (i) A marriage solemnised, after the commencement of this section, between persons either of whom is under the age of 18 years shall not be valid in law.

(ii)Subparagraph (i)applies to any marriage solemnised-

(I) in the State, irrespective of where the spouses or either of them are or is ordinarily resident, or

(II) outside the State, if at the time of the solemnisation of the marriage, the spouses or either of them are or is ordinarily resident in the State.

(b)Paragraph (a)does not apply if exemption from it was granted undersection 33before the marriage concerned.

(c) The requirement in relation to marriage arising by virtue ofparagraph (a)is hereby declared to be a substantive requirement for marriage.

Notification of intention to marry.

32.(1) (a) A marriage solemnised, after the commencement of this section, in the State between persons of any age shall not be valid in law unless-

(i) the persons concerned notify the Registrar in writing of their intention to so marry not less than 3 months prior to the date on which the marriage is to be solemnised, or

(ii) exemption from this section was granted before the marriage under section 33.

(b) The requirement specified in paragraph (a) is hereby declared to be a substantive requirement for marriage.

Exemption of certain marriages from sections 31 (1) and 32 (1).

33.(1) The court may, on application to it in that behalf by both of the parties to an intended marriage, by order exempt the marriage from the application of section 31 (1) (a) or 32 (1) (a) or both of those provisions.

(2) The following provisions shall apply in relation to an application under subsection (1):

(a) it may be made informally,

(b) it may be heard and determined otherwise than in public,

(c) a court fee shall not be charged in respect of it, and

(d) it shall not be granted unless the applicant shows that its grant is justified by serious reasons and is in the interests of the parties to the intended marriage.

Determination of questions between spouses in relation to property.

36.(1) Either spouse may apply to the court in a summary manner to determine any question arising between them as to the title to or possession of any property.

(2) On application to it undersubsection (1), the court may-

(a) make such order with respect to the property in dispute (including an order that it be sold or partitioned) and as to the costs consequent upon the application, and

(b) direct such inquiries, and give such other directions, in relation to the application,

as the court considers proper.