Singapore legislation
Section 21
Section 21
Special marriage licence
(1)
The Minister may, if he or she thinks fit, dispense with the giving of notice and with the issue of a marriage licence, and may grant a special marriage licence in the prescribed form authorising the solemnisation of a marriage between the parties named —
upon proof being made to the Minister by statutory declaration —
that there is no lawful impediment to the proposed marriage; and
where any party to the proposed marriage is a person to whom section 17A applies, that both parties to the proposed marriage have attended and completed a marriage preparation programme;
where one party to the proposed marriage has been previously married but is divorced, upon a statutory declaration being furnished by the party as to whether that party owes any arrears in respect of any maintenance which is payable under a maintenance order; and
upon the Minister being satisfied that the necessary consent (if any) to the marriage has been obtained, or that the consent has been dispensed with or given under section 13.
(2)
The Minister may, in his or her discretion, grant a special marriage licence under this section authorising the solemnisation of a marriage although any party to the marriage is below 18 years of age.
(3)
If the marriage authorised by a special marriage licence under this section is not solemnised within one month from the date of the licence, the licence becomes void.
(4)
The Minister may delegate his or her powers under this section to any person, subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit to impose.
(5)
In this section, “maintenance order” has the meaning given by section 17(4).