23. Solemnization of a civil marriage performed in office of a Registrar or elsewhere

The Registrar acting under paragraph 22(1)(a) or (b) shall, after delivery to him of a certificate for the marriage issued by the Registrar or Registrars concerned or a licence authorizing the marriage, address the parties in the following words, either directly or through an interpreter:

“Do I understand that you A.B. and you C.D. are here of your own free will for the purpose of becoming man and wife?”.

Upon their answering in the affirmative he shall proceed thus:

“Take notice then that, by this solemnization of your marriage before these witnesses here present according to law, you consent to be legally married for life to each other, and that this marriage cannot be dissolved during your lifetime except by a valid judgment of the court and if either of you shall, during the lifetime of the

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other, contract another marriage, howsoever and wheresoever solemnized, while this marriage subsists, you will thereby be committing an offence against the law.”.

Next, the Registrar shall enquire of the parties, directly or through an interpreter, whether they know of any lawful impediment why they should not be joined together in matrimony. Upon their answering in the negative he shall enquire, directly or through an interpreter, of each of the parties whether he or she will take her or him to be his or her lawful wedded wife or husband. Upon their answering in the affirmative, the Registrar, the parties and the witnesses shall comply with section 25.