Singapore legislation
Clause 22
Clause 22
Solemnization of marriage by Registrar
(1)
Every marriage solemnized by the Registrar shall be solemnized in the presence of at least two credible witnesses.
(2)
The Registrar, after delivery to him of the certificate for the marriage or a licence authorizing the marriage, shall, either directly or through an interpreter, address the parties thus —“Do I understand that you A.B., and you C.D., come here for the purpose of becoming man and wife?”.If the parties answer in the affirmative, he shall proceed thus —“Know ye that by the public taking of each other as man and wife in my presence, and in the presence of the persons now here, and by the subsequent attestation thereof by signing your names to that effect, you become legally married to each other, although no other rite of a civil or religious nature shall take place, and that this marriage cannot be dissolved during your lifetime, except by a valid judgment of divorce, and if either of you before the death of the other shall contract another marriage while this remains undissolved, you will be thereby guilty of an offence under section 494 of the Penal Code, and liable to punishment for that offence.”.
(3)
In some part of the ceremony each of the parties —
shall declare as follows or to the like effect: —“I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, A.B., may not be joined in matrimony to C.D.”; and
shall say to the other as follows or to the like effect: —“I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, A.B., do take thee, C.D., to be my lawful wedded wife (or husband).”.
(4)
If either party does not understand the English language, the Registrar shall, at the time of solemnization interpret or cause to be interpreted to such party into a language which he understands, the declarations to be made at such marriage in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.