A forced marriage is a marriage that takes place without the full and free consent of both parties.
Force is not restricted to direct threats of violence and can include coercion by threats or other psychological means. The force can be directed against another person in an attempt to force the person to be protected into marriage.
Under the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996), the court can make a forced marriage order (FMPO) that can be used to protect the person who has been, or is being, forced into marriage against their will by imposing restrictions against the effecting of marriage and requirements such as the surrender of passports.
The court may make an FMPO as a result of a free-standing application or without an application being made, of the court's own volition in other family proceedings. The court can make an order of its own initiative in any other family proceedings where it considers it should be made to protect a person and where a potential respondent is involved in those proceedings.
In deciding whether to make an FMPO, the
To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.
**Trials are provided to all LexisNexis content, excluding Practice Compliance, Practice Management and Risk and Compliance, subscription packages are tailored to your specific needs. To discuss trialling these LexisNexis services please email customer service via our online form. Free trials are only available to individuals based in the UK, Ireland and selected UK overseas territories and Caribbean countries. We may terminate this trial at any time or decide not to give a trial, for any reason. Trial includes one question to LexisAsk during the length of the trial.
On 29 April 2026, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which, among other things, makes a series of amendments to the Children Act 1989 (ChA...
The UK Supreme Court has announced that His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of Lord Justice Snowden as a Justice of the Supreme Court....
The Victims and Courts Bill has received Royal Assent, introducing reforms aimed at strengthening victims’ rights and improving the operation of the...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes recent judgments on a prohibited steps order to prevent a mother from disclosing to the...
Procedural guide—Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (civil remedy)The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (PHA 1997) makes it an offence to pursue a course of conduct that amounts to harassment and creates a civil tort allowing for a claim for damages and ancillary injunctions. The High
Can a non-molestation order made under the Family Law Act 1996 be granted for longer than 12 months or for an indefinite period?Applications for non-molestation orders under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) are governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955, in
Non-molestation ordersThis Practice Note explains the criteria that the court must have regard to when considering an application for a non-molestation order under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996). It explains who can apply for a non-molestation order and who are associated persons
Freezing orders (Mareva)—family proceedingsA freezing order (formerly termed a Mareva injunction or order) is an interim injunction restraining a party from disposing or dealing with assets under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court or the Family Court (by section 31E of the Matrimonial and
0330 161 1234