LAWS OF KENYA

THE MARRIAGE ACT

NO. 4 OF 2014

2014
Published by the National Council for Law Reporting
with the Authority of the Attorney-General
www.kenyalaw.org
 No. 4 of 2014
Marriage

NO. 4 OF 2014

MARRIAGE ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I – PRELIMINARY
Section
1. Short title
2. Interpretation
PART II – GENERAL PROVISIONS
3. Meaning of marriage
4. Minimum age
5. Witnesses to a marriage
6. Kinds of marriages
7. Declaration of marriage registration areas
8. Conversion of marriages
9. Subsisting marriages
10. Prohibited marriage relationship
11. Void marriages
12. Voidable marriages
13. Spouses and the law of tort
14. Arrangement to live apart
15. Rights of widow and widowers
16. Duration of marriage
PART III – CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES
17. Christian marriages
18. Interpretation of Part
19. Objection to give a notice of intention to marry
20. Obligations of the church minister in relation to objection
21. Signing of the marriage certificate
22. Recognition of foreign marriages as Christian marriages in Kenya
23. Christian marriages at the embassy, high commission or consulate
PART IV – CIVIL MARRIAGE
24. Celebration of civil marriages
25. Notice of intention to marry
26. Publication of notice of intention to marry
27. Objection to a notice of intention to marry
28. Obligation of the person in charge of a place where a marriage is to be
celebrated in relation to objections
29. Determination of objection
30. Effect of an appeal to an objection
31. Appeal proceedings
32. Certificate of no impediment

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33. Power of Registrar to dispense with notice

34. Effect of appeal on the findings of an objection
35. Contraction of civil marriage
36. Certificate of no impediment
37. Civil marriages at the Kenyan embassy, high commission or consulate for
non-Kenyan citizens
38. Civil marriages in foreign countries
39. Civil marriages at the Kenyan embassy, high commission or Consulate for
Kenyan citizens
40. Recognition of foreign marriages as civil marriages in Kenya
41. Appointment of diplomatic staff as celebrants of marriage
42. Duty to register marriages
PART V – MARRIAGE UNDER CUSTOMARY LAW
43. Governing law for Customary marriage
44. Notification of Customary marriage
45. Contents of notification of Customary marriage
PART VI – HINDU MARRIAGE
46. Application of this Part
47. Persons authorised by Registrar to solemnize Hindu marriages
PART VII – MARRIAGE UNDER ISLAMIC LAW
48. Application of Islamic law
49. Officiation of Islamic marriages
PART VIII – APPOINTMENT OF REGISTRAR
OF MARRIAGES AND MARRIAGE OFFICERS
50. Appointment of Registrar and Marriage officers
51. Appointment of marriage officers in foreign countries
52. Licensing ministers of faith
PART IX – REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES
53. Registration of Christian marriages
54. Registration of civil marriages
55. Registration of Customary marriage
56. Registration of Hindu marriages
57. Registration of Islamic marriages
58. Registration of marriages contracted abroad
59. Evidence of marriage
60. Copies of decrees of annulment and divorce to be sent to Registrar
61. Registration of foreign annulments and divorces
62. Endorsement of marriage registers
63. Correction of errors
PART X – MATRIMONIAL DISPUTES
AND MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS
Dissolution of a Christian marriage
64. Mediation of disputes in Christian marriages

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65. Grounds for dissolution of a Christian marriage

Dissolution of a civil marriage
66. Right to petition for separation or divorce
67. Dismissal of petition deception or non-disclosure
Dissolution of a customary marriage
68. Mediation of disputes in Customary marriages
69. Grounds for divorce of Customary marriages
Dissolution of a Hindu Marriage
70. Grounds for divorce of Hindu marriages
Dissolution of an Islamic marriage
71. Governing law for Islamic divorce matters
72. Registration of divorce under Islamic law
Annulment of Marriage
73. Grounds for annulment of marriage
74. Party to petition for annulment of marriage
75. Effect of a decree of annulment
PART XI – OTHER RIGHTS OF ACTION
76. Effect of a promise to marry
PART XII – MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSE AND OTHER RELIEFS
77. Grounds for order of maintenance
78. Lapsing of maintenance
79. Termination of an order of maintenance
80. Revocation and variation of an order for maintenance
81. Assessment of maintenance
82. Recovery of maintenance arrears
83. Compounding of maintenance
84. Other relief
85. Order concerning children
PART XIII – OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
86. False statement in the notice of intention to marry or notice of objection
87. Marriage to a person under minimum age
88. Marriage of persons within prohibited marriage relationship
89. Coercion, fraud, etc.
90. Ceremony performed by unauthorized person
91. Absence of witnesses
92. Offence relating to the celebration or witnessing of a union
PART XIV – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
93. Celebration of other marriages
94. Provisions on delegated powers
95. Rules
96. Transitional Provisions
97. Repeals
98. Savings

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SCHEDULES

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NO. 4 OF 2014

MARRIAGE ACT
[Date of assent: 29th April, 2014.]
[Date of commencement: 20th May, 2014.]
An Act of Parliament to amend and consolidate the various laws relating to
marriage and divorce and for connected purposes
[Act No. 4 of 2014.]

PART I – PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Marriage Act, 2014.
2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
"child" means an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen years;
"cohabit" means to live in an arrangement in which an unmarried couple lives
together in a long-term relationship that resembles a marriage;
"conciliatory body" means—
(a) a body established under this Act for the purpose of reconciling parties
to a marriage;
(b) a mechanism of conciliation recognised under customary or Islamic
law;
(c) any other body designated as such by the Cabinet Secretary by notice
in the Gazette; or
(d) any other body established by any written law;
"court" means a resident magistrate’s court established under section 3 of the
Magistrates’ Courts Act (Cap. 10);
"dowry" means any token of stock, goods, moneys or other property given or
promised in consideration of an intended marriage;
"faith" means an association of a religious nature and, in the case of any system
of religious beliefs which is divided into denominations, sects or schools, any such
denomination, sect or school;
"Hindu" means a person who is—
(a) a Hindu by religion in any form (including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat and
a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj);
(b) a Buddhist of Indian origin; or
(c) a Jain or a Sikh by religion;
"matrimonial proceedings" means proceedings instituted under Part IX and
include proceedings for the payment of maintenance or for custody of children
instituted independently of a petition for a declaratory decree or for annulment,
separation or divorce;

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"monogamous marriage" means a marriage whose character has been

converted to a monogamous marriage by a declaration made under section 8,
including an originally polygamous or potentially polygamous marriage;
"party", in relation to a marriage, an intended marriage or a purported marriage,
means a spouse in a marriage, or the intended spouse to a marriage or purported
spouse in a marriage;
"polygamy" means the state or practice of a man having more than one wife
simultaneously;
"prohibited marriage relationship" has the meaning assigned to it in section 10;
"Registrar" means a person appointed under section 50 of this Act;
"spouse" means a husband or a wife; and
"witness" means to be present at, to observe, and to attest to the celebration of
a marriage by signing ones name to or putting ones mark on a marriage certificate.
PART II – GENERAL PROVISIONS
3. Meaning of marriage
(1) Marriage is the voluntary union of a man and a woman whether in a
monogamous or polygamous union and registered in accordance with this Act.
(2) Parties to a marriage have equal rights and obligations at the time of the
marriage, during the marriage and at the dissolution of the marriage.
(3) All marriages registered under this Act have the same legal status.
(4) Subject to sub-section (2), the parties to an Islamic marriage shall only have
the rights granted under Islamic law.
4. Minimum age
A person shall not marry unless that person has attained the age of eighteen
years.
5. Witnesses to a marriage
(1) A marriage conducted under this Act shall be witnessed by two competent
witnesses.
(2) A person is not competent to act as a witness if that person is—
(a) below the age of eighteen years;
(b) otherwise not competent to enter into a contract because of—
(i) mental disability rendering that person incapable of
understanding what the parties are doing; or
(ii) intoxication;
(c) unable to understand, whether through an interpreter or otherwise,
the language in which the ceremony is held.
(3) The person who celebrates a marriage shall not be a witness to the marriage
for the purposes of this section.
6. Kinds of marriages
(1) A marriage may be registered under this Act if it is celebrated—
(a) in accordance with the rites of a Christian denomination;
(b) as a civil marriage;

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(c) in accordance with the customary rites relating to any of the

communities in Kenya;
(d) in accordance with the Hindu rites and ceremonies; and
(e) in accordance with Islamic law.
(2) A Christian, Hindu or civil marriage is monogamous.
(3) A marriage celebrated under customary law or Islamic law is presumed to
be polygamous or potentially polygamous.
7. Declaration of marriage registration areas
The Cabinet Secretary may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any area of Kenya
to be a registration area for the purposes of this Act.
8. Conversion of marriages
(1) A marriage may be converted from being a potentially polygamous marriage
to a monogamous marriage if each spouse voluntarily declares the intent to make
such a conversion.
(2) A polygamous marriage may not be converted to a monogamous marriage
unless at the time of the conversion the husband has only one wife.
(3) A declaration under subsection (1) shall be made in the presence of a
marriage officer and shall be recorded in writing and signed by each spouse.
(4) A marriage officer before whom a declaration is made under subsection (3)
shall forthwith transmit a copy thereof to the Registrar.
(5) Where a declaration is made under subsection (1), the Registrar shall take
possession of the certificate registering the marriage as potentially polygamous
and shall issue a certificate registering the marriage as monogamous.
(6) The Registrar shall enter the details of converted marriages in the prescribed
manner into a register maintained for that purpose.
9. Subsisting marriages
Subject to section 8, a married person shall not, while—
(a) in a monogamous marriage, contract another marriage; or
(b) in a polygamous or potentially polygamous marriage, contract another
marriage in any monogamous form.
10. Prohibited marriage relationship
(1) A person shall not marry—
(a) that person’s grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, sister, brother,
cousin, great aunt, great uncle, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, great
niece or great nephew;
(b) the grandparent, parent, child or grandchild of that person’s spouse
or former spouse;
(c) the grandparent, parent, child or grandchild of that person’s former
spouse;
(d) a person whom that person has adopted or by whom that person has
been adopted; or
(e) any other person where such marriages is prohibited under customary
law.

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(2) For the purposes of this section, a relationship of the half-blood is a bar
to marriage.
(3) A person who, by this section, is forbidden to marry shall be said to be within
a prohibited marriage relationship.
(4) The marriage of a person with that person’s cousin does not apply to
persons who profess the Islamic faith.
11. Void marriages
(1) A union is not a marriage if at the time of the making of the union—
(a) either party is below the minimum age for marriage;
(b) the parties are within the prohibited marriage relationship;
(c) either party is incompetent to marry by reason of a subsisting
marriage;
(d) by order made under section 25, the court has directed that the
intended marriage is not to be contracted;
(e) the consent of either party has not been freely given;
(f) either party is absent from the ceremony;
(g) both parties knowingly and willfully permit a person who is not
authorised to do so to celebrate the union;
(h) either party is mistaken about the identity of the other party; or
(i) either party knowingly or willfully enters into the marriage for
fraudulent purposes.
(2) Consent is not freely given where the party who purports to give it—
(a) is influenced by coercion of fraud;
(b) is mistaken as to the nature or purport of the ceremony; or
(c) is suffering from any mental condition whether permanent or
temporary, or is intoxicated, or is under the influence of drugs, so as
not to appreciate the nature or purport of the ceremony.
12. Voidable marriages
Subject to section 50, a marriage is voidable if—
(a) at the date of the marriage—
(i) either party was and has ever since remained incapable of
consummating it;
(ii) either party was and has ever since remained subject to
recurrent attacks of insanity;
(b) there was a failure to give notice of intention to marry under section 25;
(c) notice of objection to the intended marriage having been given was
not withdrawn or dismissed;
(d) the fact that a person officiating the marriage was not lawfully entitled
to officiate;
(e) failure to register the marriage.
13. Spouses and the law of tort
Despite the provisions of any other written law—

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(a) a spouse shall not be liable for the torts of the other spouse by reason
of being a spouse;
(b) spouses have the same liability in tort towards each other as if they
were not married; and
(c) a spouse shall be entitled to claim, in any action resulting from a
negligent act, omission or breach of duty, which causes loss of the
companionship of the other, or damages in respect of that loss.
14. Arrangement to live apart
(1) The parties to a civil marriage may agree to live apart for one year and any
such agreement shall be valid and enforceable, and shall be filed with the court.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the court may vary or set aside the agreement or
any of its provisions if the court is satisfied that since the agreement was made
there has been a material change of circumstances.
(3) A party to a civil marriage may apply to the court to determine their status
after the expiry of the one year period from the date of agreement.
15. Rights of widow and widowers
(1) A widow or widower may re-marry.
(2) A widow or a widower may elect not to re-marry.
16. Duration of marriage
A marriage registered under this Act subsists until it is determined by—
(a) the death of a spouse;
(b) a decree declaring the presumption of the death of a spouse;
(c) a decree of annulment;
(d) a decree of divorce; or
(e) a decree of divorce or annulment obtained in a foreign country and
recognized in Kenya under this Act.
PART III – CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES
17. Christian marriages
This Part applies to a marriage where a party to the marriage professes the
Christian religion.
18. Interpretation of Part
In this Part "marriage officer" means a licensed church minister appointed by
the registrar under section 50.
19. Objection to give a notice of intention to marry
(1) A person who knows of an impediment to an intended marriage may give
a written notice of objection to the person in charge of a public place of worship
where notice of intended marriage has been posted in accordance with section 26.
(2) A notice of objection shall include the name of the person giving the notice
of objection and the person’s relationship with either of the intended parties and
shall state the reason for the objection to the intended marriage.
(3) A person who has given notice of objection may, at any time, withdraw the
objection in writing.

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20. Obligations of the church minister in relation to objection

(1) Upon receiving a notice of objection, the person in charge of a public place
of worship shall hear the objection forthwith and if the person in charge of a public
place of worship considers that the objection requires a further hearing, he or she
shall postpone the marriage ceremony until such time as the objections will be
determined in accordance with the church regulations.
(2) The person in charge of a public place of worship shall determine an
objection within a reasonable period which shall not be more than seven days after
hearing the objection.
(3) Upon determination of an objection, the person in charge of public place of
worship shall prepare and submit a report of the process of determination of the
objection in the prescribed form to the parties and the Registrar within seven days
of determination.
(4) Any party who is dissatisfied with the decision of the person in charge of a
public place of worship may appeal to the court within fourteen days of the decision.
21. Signing of the marriage certificate
(1) When a marriage has been celebrated in accordance with the provisions of
this Part, the person officiating at the marriage ceremony shall—
(a) complete and sign a marriage certificate in the prescribed form; and
(b) cause it to be signed by the parties and by the witnesses to the
marriage.
(2) The person officiating at the marriage ceremony shall issue—
(a) one copy of the marriage certificate to the parties;
(b) retain one copy of the marriage certificate; and
(c) deliver one copy of the marriage certificate to the Registrar.
22. Recognition of foreign marriages as Christian marriages in Kenya
A marriage celebrated outside Kenya otherwise than in accordance with this
Part, shall be recognized as a marriage under this Part if—
(a) it is contracted in accordance with the law of the country where it is
celebrated and is consistent with the requirements of this Part;
(b) at the time of the celebration of the marriage, the parties to the
marriage had the capacity to marry under the law of the country where
the marriage is celebrated; or
(c) at the time of the marriage any party to the marriage is domiciled in
Kenya, both parties had the capacity to marry under this Act.
23. Christian marriages at the embassy, high commission or consulate
A marriage celebrated in the embassy, high commission or consulate of a
foreign country in Kenya is a Christian marriage under this Part if—
(a) it is contracted in accordance with the law relating to Christian
marriages of that foreign country;
(b) at the time of the marriage, the parties had capacity to marry under
the law of that foreign country and under this Act; or
(c) either of the parties is at the time of the marriage domiciled in Kenya
both parties had capacity to marry under this Act.

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PART IV – CIVIL MARRIAGE

24. Celebration of civil marriages
A marriage under this Part shall be celebrated by the Registrar in the place
determined by the Registrar.
25. Notice of intention to marry
(1) Where a man and a woman intend to marry under this Part, they shall give to
the Registrar and the person in charge of the place where they intend to celebrate
the marriage a written notice of not less than twenty-one days and not more than
three months of their intention to marry.
(2) A notice given under this section shall include—
(a) the names and ages of the parties to the intended marriage and the
places where they ordinarily reside;
(b) the names of the parents of the parties, if known and alive, and the
places where they ordinarily reside;
(c) a declaration that the parties are not within a prohibited relationship;
(d) the marital status of each party and, where a party is—
(i) divorced, a copy of the relevant decree; or
(ii) widowed widow or a widower, a copy of the death certificate;
and
(e) the date and venue of the marriage ceremony.
(3) The notice under subsection (1) shall be signed by both parties.
26. Publication of notice of intention to marry
After receiving a notice under section 25, the Registrar shall publish such notice
in the prescribed manner in the place where the marriage is to be celebrated.
27. Objection to a notice of intention to marry
(1) A person who knows of an impediment to an intended marriage may give
a written notice of objection to the Registrar or the person in charge of the place
where a notice of intended marriage has been posted in accordance with section
26.
(2) A notice of objection shall include the name of the person giving the notice
of objection and the person’s relationship with either of the intended parties to the
marriage and shall state the reasons for the objection to the intended marriage.
(3) A person who has given a notice of objection may at any time withdraw the
objection in writing.
28. Obligation of the person in charge of a place where a marriage is to be
celebrated in relation to objections
(1) Upon receiving a notice of objection, the person in charge of a place
where the marriage is to be celebrated shall hear the objection forthwith and if the
person in charge of the place where the marriage is to be celebrated considers
that the objection requires further hearing, he or she shall postpone the marriage
ceremony until such time as the objection shall be determine in accordance with
the Regulations.

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(2) The person in charge of a place where the marriage is to be celebrated

shall determine an objection within a reasonable period which shall not be more
than seven days after the hearing of the objection.
(3) Upon determination of an objection, the person in charge of a place where
the marriage is to be celebrated shall prepare and submit a report of the process of
determination of the objection in the prescribed form to the parties and the Registrar
within seven days of the determination.
(4) Any person who is dissatisfied with the decision of the person in charge
of a place where the marriage is to be celebrated may appeal to the Court within
fourteen days of the decision.
29. Determination of objection
(1) The Registrar shall hear an objection under section 28 within seven days
of the Registrar receiving the notice of objection.
(2) The Registrar shall determine an objection under section 28 within a
reasonable period but in any case not more than seven days after the hearing
under subsection (1).
(3) Any party dissatisfied with the decision of the Registrar may appeal to the
court within seven days of the decision by the Registrar.
(4) A person who makes a frivolous, malicious or fraudulent objection commits
an offence and upon conviction is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
five years or a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to both.
30. Effect of an appeal to an objection
A marriage ceremony may not be performed until any appeal that has been
made against a decision of the Registrar to permit the marriage ceremony to be
performed is heard and determined.
31. Appeal proceedings
(1) The court shall hear and determine any appeal expeditiously.
(2) The court may hear and determine an appeal despite the failure of any party
or other person to appear before it.
32. Certificate of no impediment
(1) Where a person does not object to the celebration of a marriage, the
Registrar shall issue the persons intending to marry with a certificate of no
impediment.
(2) Where a Kenyan wishes to celebrate a marriage outside Kenya and where
that Kenyan is required to obtain a certificate of no impediment from the Registrar,
such Kenyan shall apply for such a certificate and the Registrar shall issue the
certificate if no person objects to the intended marriage.
33. Power of Registrar to dispense with notice
(1) Subject to section 25, the Registrar may, by licence in the prescribed form,
dispense with the notice required by section 27 where there is sufficient reason
to do so.
(2) Before dispensing with the notice, the Registrar shall confirm that—
(a) neither party is within a prohibited relationship;
(b) either party is below the minimum age for marriage;
(c) neither party is married to another person.

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34. Effect of appeal on the findings of an objection

(1) The provisions of section 30 apply with the necessary modifications.
(2) Unless a notice of objection has been withdrawn the Registrar shall not
exercise the power conferred by section 33 to dispense with a notice.
35. Contraction of civil marriage
When a marriage has been celebrated in the presence of a Registrar, the
Registrar shall—
(a) complete and sign a marriage certificate in the prescribed form; and
(b) cause the marriage to be signed by the parties and by the witnesses
to the marriage and give two copies of the marriage certificate to the
parties and retain one copy.
36. Certificate of no impediment
(1) If the Registrar is satisfied that no impediment to the intended marriage
exists, the Registrar shall celebrate the marriage.
(2) If a Kenyan wishes to celebrate a civil marriage in a foreign country in
accordance with the law of that country and the law of that country requires a
certificate of no impediment, the Registrar may issue a certificate of no impediment.
37. Civil marriages at the Kenyan embassy, high commission or consulate
for non-Kenyan citizens
A person who is not a Kenyan may celebrate a marriage under this Part in a
foreign country if the marriage is celebrated in the presence of the Registrar or a
person authorised by the Registrar for that purpose in any Kenyan embassy, high
commission or consulate.
38. Civil marriages in foreign countries
A marriage celebrated in a foreign country otherwise than in accordance with
section 37 is valid if—
(a) it was contracted in accordance with the law of that country and is
consistent with the laws of Kenya;
(b) at the time of the marriage the parties had the capacity to marry under
the law of that country and is consistent with the laws of Kenya;
(c) either of the parties is at the time of the marriage domiciled in Kenya,
both parties had capacity to marry under this Act; and
(d) if the Registrar is satisfied that the parties have obtained a certificate
of no impediment if the law of that country requires the parties to an
intended marriage to obtain such a certificate.
39. Civil marriages at the Kenyan embassy, high commission or Consulate
for Kenyan citizens
(1) A Kenyan may celebrate a civil marriage in a Kenyan embassy, high
commission or consulate in a foreign country if—
(a) it is celebrated in accordance with the law of that foreign country; or
(b) both parties have the capacity to marry under the law of that foreign
country.

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(2) Despite subsection (1), a civil marriage celebrated in a Kenyan embassy,

high commission or consulate in a foreign country is valid in Kenya if the parties
were capable of celebrating the marriage in Kenya.
40. Recognition of foreign marriages as civil marriages in Kenya
A civil marriage contracted in a foreign country shall be recognized as a valid
marriage if—
(a) it is contracted in accordance with the law of that country;
(b) it is consistent with the provisions of this Part; and
(c) the parties have the capacity to marry under this Act.
41. Appointment of diplomatic staff as celebrants of marriage
(1) The Cabinet Secretary may appoint by notice in the Gazette a member
of the diplomatic staff of Kenya in a foreign country to which this Part applies to
celebrate marriages under this Act in respect of that country.
(2) The Registrar shall maintain a register of all marriages conducted in foreign
countries.
42. Duty to register marriages
(1) A person who celebrates or officiates at a marriage shall deliver a copy of
the marriage certificate to the Registrar and the Registrar shall enter the details
of such a certificate in a register of marriages maintained for that purpose by the
Registrar.
(2) Where the Registrar officiates at a marriage, the Registrar shall enter the
details of the marriage in the register of marriages maintained under subsection (1).
(3) A person who fails to register a marriage commits an offence and shall
upon conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand shillings or to a
community service order or to both.
PART V – MARRIAGE UNDER CUSTOMARY LAW
43. Governing law for Customary marriage
(1) A marriage under this Part shall be celebrated in accordance with the
customs of the communities of one or both of the parties to the intended marriage.
(2) Where the payment of dowry is required to prove a marriage under
customary law, the payment of a token amount of dowry shall be sufficient to prove
a customary marriage.
44. Notification of Customary marriage
The parties to a customary marriage shall notify the Registrar of such marriage
within three months of completion of the relevant ceremonies or steps required to
confer the status of marriage to the parties in the community concerned.
45. Contents of notification of Customary marriage
(1) The notification under section 25 shall—
(a) specify the customary law applied in the marriage of such parties; and
(b) contain a written declaration by the parties, that the necessary
customary requirements to prove the marriage have been undertaken.

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(2) A declaration under subsection (1) shall contain the signatures or personal
marks of two adult witnesses and each witness shall have played a key cultural
role in the celebrating the marriage.
(3) The notification under subsection (1) shall confirm—
(a) that the parties to the marriage were eighteen years of age at the time
of the marriage;
(b) that the marriage is between persons who are not within a prohibited
marriage relationship; and
(c) that the parties freely consent to the marriage.
PART VI – HINDU MARRIAGE
46. Application of this Part
This Part shall apply only to persons who profess the Hindu faith.
47. Persons authorised by Registrar to solemnize Hindu marriages
(1) A marriage under this Part is may be officiated by a person authorised by
the Registrar and in accordance with the Hindu religious rituals of a party to the
marriage.
(2) A person authorised to officiate at a marriage under this Part shall record
the details of a marriage under this part in the prescribed form and shall deliver the
record to the Registrar for the registration of such a marriage.
PART VII – MARRIAGE UNDER ISLAMIC LAW
48. Application of Islamic law
This Part shall only apply to persons who profess the Islamic faith.
49. Officiation of Islamic marriages
(1) A marriage under this Part shall be officiated by a kadhi, sheikh or imam as
may be authorised by the Registrar and celebrated in accordance with Islamic law.
(2) A person authorised to officiate at a marriage under this Part shall record
the details of a marriage under this part in the prescribed form and shall deliver the
record to the Registrar for the registration of such a marriage.
(3) Any provision of this Act which is inconsistent with Islamic law and practices
shall not apply to persons who profess the Islamic faith.
PART VIII – APPOINTMENT OF REGISTRAR
OF MARRIAGES AND MARRIAGE OFFICERS
50. Appointment of Registrar and Marriage officers
(1) There shall be a Registrar of Marriages who shall be appointed by the
Cabinet Secretary.
(2) The Registrar shall—
(a) perform civil marriages;
(b) register all marriages;
(c) issue marriage certificates for all registered marriages;
(d) issue certificates of no impediment to persons who intend to marry
and who qualify for such a certificate;
(e) determine the rules governing customary marriages; and

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(f) determine objections of notices to marry.

(3) The Registrar may appoint such marriage officers at national and county
levels, as may be necessary upon such terms and conditions as may be determined
by the Public Service Commission for the purposes of this Act.
51. Appointment of marriage officers in foreign countries
(1) The Registrar may by notice in the Gazette, appoint a member of the
diplomatic staff of Kenya in a foreign country to celebrate civil marriages for the
purposes of this Act.
(2) A person appointed under subsection (1) shall keep a record of all marriages
celebrated that that person in that country and shall deliver the record to the
Registrar for the registration of such marriages.
52. Licensing ministers of faith
(1) A minister of faith may apply to the Registrar to be appointed as a marriage
officer for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Registrar may appoint a minister of faith who makes an application
under subsection (1) as a marriage officer.
(3) The Registrar shall issue a person appointed as a marriage officer under
this section with a license.
(4) A person appointed as a marriage officer under this section may only
officiate at marriages celebrated according to the traditions of the faith in which the
minister of faith serves.
(5) The Registrar may cancel a license issued to a person under this section
and shall give written reasons for such withdrawal.
(6) A licence granted in respect of marriages under any law in operation before
the commencement of this Act shall, if the licence has not been cancelled at the
commencement of this Act, be deemed to be a licence granted under this section.
PART IX – REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES
53. Registration of Christian marriages
(1) Where a marriage is celebrated under Part III of this Act, the person
officiating at the marriage shall forward a copy of the certificate of marriage to the
Registrar within fourteen days of the celebration of the marriage for the registration
of that marriage.
(2) Before the Registrar registers a marriage under subsection (1) the Registrar
shall confirm that the marriage complies with the provisions of this Act.
54. Registration of civil marriages
(1) Where the Registrar celebrates a marriage under Part IV of this Act, the
Registrar shall register the marriage.
(2) Where a marriage officer celebrates a marriage under Part IV, the marriage
officer shall record the details of the marriage in the prescribed form and forward
the record to the Registrar and the Registrar shall register the marriage.
(3) The Registrar shall issue a certificate of marriage to the parties to a marriage
celebrated under Part IV of this Act.

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55. Registration of Customary marriage

(1) Where the parties to a marriage under Part V have completed the necessary
rituals for their union to be recognised as a marriage under the customary law of any
of the parties both shall apply to the Registrar within six months of their marriage
for a certificate and both shall appear in person before the Registrar to be issued
with the certificate of marriage.
(2) Where the Registrar is satisfied that the parties to a marriage under Part V
have complied with the provisions of this Act, and the parties have appeared before
him in person, the Registrar shall register the marriage and issue the parties with
a certificate of marriage.
56. Registration of Hindu marriages
(1) Where a person authorised by the Registrar celebrates a marriage under
Part VI, that person shall record the details of the marriage in the prescribed form
and deliver the record to the Registrar and the Registrar shall register the marriage.
(2) Before the Registrar registers a marriage celebrated under Part VI, the
Registrar shall confirm that the marriage complies with the provisions of this Act.
(3) The Cabinet Secretary may make rules regarding the registration of
marriages under Part VI of this Act.
57. Registration of Islamic marriages
(1) Where a Kadhi, sheikh, Mukhi or imam authorised by the Registrar
celebrates a marriage under Part VII of this Act, the Kadhi, sheikh, Mukhi or imam
shall—
(a) record the details of the marriage;
(b) issue the parties to the marriage with a certificate of marriage; and
(c) deliver the record and certificate to the Registrar.
(2) Where the Registrar receives a record and certificate of a marriage
celebrated under Part VII and the Registrar is satisfied that the provisions of this
Act have been complied with, the Registrar shall register the marriage.
58. Registration of marriages contracted abroad
(1) A Kenyan who celebrates a marriage outside Kenya may apply to the
Registrar to have that marriage registered and the Registrar may register such a
marriage only when the Registrar is satisfied that the marriage complies with the
provisions of this Act.
(2) The Registrar may consider a marriage certificate issued in that country
or such other proof as the Registrar may consider sufficient before registering a
marriage celebrated outside Kenya and where a marriage certificate is not in the
official languages it shall be accompanied by a certified translation into the official
languages.
59. Evidence of marriage
(1) A marriage may be proven in Kenya by—
(a) a certificate of marriage issued under this Act or any other written law;
(b) a certified copy of a certificate of marriage issued under this Act or
any other written law;
(c) an entry in a register of marriages maintained under this Act or any
other written law;

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(d) a certified copy of an entry in a register of marriages maintained under

this Act or any other written law; or
(e) an entry in a register of marriages maintained by the proper
authority of the Khoja Shia, Ith’nasheri, Shia imam, Ismaili or Bohra
communities, or a certified copy of such an entry.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a marriage may be proven in Kenya if it was
celebrated in a public place of worship but its registration was not required, by an
entry in any register maintained at that public place of worship or a certified copy
of such an entry.
60. Copies of decrees of annulment and divorce to be sent to Registrar
Where a court grants a decree of the annulment of a marriage or the dissolution
of a marriage, it shall deliver a certified copy of the decree to the Registrar and
the Registrar shall register the annulment or dissolution in a register maintained
for the purpose.
61. Registration of foreign annulments and divorces
(1) Where a marriage celebrated in Kenya is annulled or dissolved by a decree
of a foreign court, any party to the annulled or dissolved marriage may apply to the
Registrar to register the decree.
(2) Where the Registrar is satisfied that a decree under this section should be
recognised in Kenya as if the decree was made by a Kenyan court, the Registrar
shall register the decree in a register maintained for the purpose.
(3) An application under this section shall include—
(a) a copy of the decree and where the decree is not in an official
language, a certified translation of the decree in an official language
and in the prescribed form; and
(b) a declaration under the law of the country in which the decree was
obtained made to a legal practitioner authorised to witness such a
declaration that states the decree is effective in that country as if the
marriage had been celebrated in that country.
62. Endorsement of marriage registers
(1) The Registrar shall enter the details of the declaration made under section
8 against the relevant entry in the register of marriages.
(2) The Registrar shall enter the details of the decree registered under section
60 against the relevant entry in the register of marriages and such an entry shall
be sufficient proof that the marriage has been determined by a foreign decree of
annulment or dissolution of marriage.
63. Correction of errors
(1) A party to a marriage may apply to the Registrar or to a marriage officer or
to a person authorised by the Registrar to correct a clerical error or omission in a
register of marriage or a certificate of marriage regarding that person’s marriage.
(2) Where the Registrar, a marriage officer or a person authorised by the
Registrar makes a correction under subsection (1), the Registrar, marriage officer
or person authorised by the Registrar shall sign and date the correction and shall
enter the details of the correction against the relevant entry in the register of
marriage.

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(3) The Registrar shall notify the parties to a marriage of any changes made
in the register of marriage or marriage certificate within a reasonable period of the
changes being made.
PART X – MATRIMONIAL DISPUTES AND MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS
Dissolution of a Christian marriage
64. Mediation of disputes in Christian marriages
The parties to a marriage celebrated under Part III may seek the services of
any reconciliation bodies established for that purpose that may exist in the public
place of worship where the marriage was celebrated.
65. Grounds for dissolution of a Christian marriage
A party to a marriage celebrated under Part III may petition the court for a decree
for the dissolution of the marriage on the ground of—
(a) one or more acts of adultery committed by the other party;
(b) cruelty, whether mental or physical, inflicted by the other party on the
petitioner or on the children, if any, of the marriage;
(c) desertion by either party for at least three years immediately
preceding the date of presentation of the petition;
(d) exceptional depravity by either party; or
(e) the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Dissolution of a civil marriage
66. Right to petition for separation or divorce
(1) A party to a marriage celebrated under Part IV may not petition the court
for the separation of the parties or for the dissolution of the marriage unless three
years have elapsed since the celebration of the marriage.
(2) A party to a marriage celebrated under Part IV may only petition the court
for the separation of the parties or the dissolution of the marriage on the following
grounds—
(a) adultery by the other spouse;
(b) cruelty by the other spouse;
(c) exceptional depravity by the other spouse;
(d) desertion by the other spouse for at least three years; or
(e) the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
(3) The petitioner may file the petition with the court for the separation of the
parties or the dissolution of the marriage despite any effort to reconcile the parties.
(4) The court may refer a matrimonial dispute that arises in a marriage
celebrated under Part IV to a conciliatory process agreed between the parties.
(5) The proceedings for the dissolution of a marriage celebrated under Part IV
may be adjourned for a period not exceeding six months as the court may think fit—
(a) for the court to make further enquiries; or
(b) for further attempts at reconciliation to be made by the parties to the
marriage.
(6) A marriage has irretrievably broken down if—
(a) a spouse commits adultery;

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(b) a spouse is cruel to the other spouse or to any child of the marriage;
(c) a spouse willfully neglects the other spouse for at least two years
immediately preceding the date of presentation of the petition;
(d) the spouses have been separated for at least two years, whether
voluntary or by decree of the court, where it has;
(e) a spouse has deserted the other spouse or at least three years
immediately preceding the date of presentation of the petition;
(f) a spouse has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of the for life
or for a term of seven years or more;
(g) a spouse suffers from incurable insanity, where two doctors, at least
one of whom is qualified or experienced in psychiatry, have certified
that the insanity is incurable or that recovery is improbable during the
life time of the respondent in the light of existing medical knowledge; or
(h) any other ground as the court may deem appropriate.
67. Dismissal of petition deception or non-disclosure
Where a foreign court has granted a decree in matrimonial proceedings whether
arising out of a marriage celebrated in Kenya or elsewhere, that decree shall be
recognized in Kenya if—
(a) either party is domiciled in the country where that court has jurisdiction
or had been ordinarily resident in Kenya for at least two years
immediately preceding the date of institution of proceedings;
(b) being a decree of annulment, divorce or separation, it is effective in
the country of domicile of the parties or either of them.
Dissolution of a customary marriage
68. Mediation of disputes in Customary marriages
(1) The parties to marriage celebrated under Part V may undergo a process
of conciliation or customary dispute resolution before the court may determine a
petition for the dissolution of the marriage.
(2) The process of mediation or traditional dispute resolution in subsection (1)
shall conform to the principles of the Constitution.
(3) The person who takes the parties to a marriage celebrated under Part V
through the process of conciliation or traditional dispute resolution shall prepare a
report of the process for the court.
69. Grounds for divorce of Customary marriages
(1) A Party to a marriage celebrated under Part V may petition the court for the
dissolution of the marriage on the ground of—
(a) adultery;
(b) cruelty;
(c) desertion;
(d) exceptional depravity;
(e) irretrievable breakdown of the marriage; or
(f) any valid ground under the customary law of the petitioner.
(2) The Cabinet Secretary may, in consultation with the communities make
regulations for the implementation of this section.

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Dissolution of a Hindu Marriage

70. Grounds for divorce of Hindu marriages
A party to a marriage celebrated under Part VI may petition the court for the
dissolution of the marriage on the ground that—
(a) the marriage has irretrievably broken down;
(b) the other party has deserted the petitioner for at least three years
before the making of the petition;
(c) the other party has converted to another religion;
(d) since the celebration of the marriage, the other party has committed
rape, sodomy, bestiality or adultery;
(e) the other party has committed cruelty on the other; and
(f) the other party has committed exceptional depravity on the other.
Dissolution of an Islamic marriage
71. Governing law for Islamic divorce matters
The dissolution of marriage celebrated under Part VII shall be governed by
Islamic law.
72. Registration of divorce under Islamic law
Where a Kadhi, sheikh, imam or person authorised by the Registrar grants
a decree for the dissolution of a marriage celebrated under Part VII, the Kadhi,
sheikh, imam, Mukhi or authorised person shall deliver a copy of the decree to the
Registrar.
Annulment of Marriage
73. Grounds for annulment of marriage
(1) A party to a marriage may petition the court to annul the marriage on the
ground that—
(a) the marriage has not been consummated since its celebration;
(b) at the time of the marriage and without the knowledge of either party,
the parties were in a prohibited relationship;
(c) in the case of a monogamous marriage, at the time of the marriage
one of the parties was married to another person;
(d) the petitioner’s consent was not freely given;
(e) a party to the marriage was absent at the time of the celebration of
the marriage;
(f) at the time of the marriage and without the knowledge of the husband,
the wife is pregnant and that the husband is not responsible for the
pregnancy; or
(g) at the time of the marriage and without the knowledge of the petitioner,
the other party suffers recurrent bouts of insanity.
(2) The court shall only grant a decree of annulment if—
(a) the petition is made within one year of the celebration of the marriage;
(b) at the date of the marriage and regarding subsections (1)(b) and (c),
the petitioner was ignorant of the facts alleged in the petition; and

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(c) the marriage has not been consummated since the petition was made
to the court.
74. Party to petition for annulment of marriage
(1) A petition for annulment may be presented only by one of the parties.
(2) Where a petitioner alleges facts of which only one party was ignorant at the
date of that marriage, it may be presented only by that party.
(3) Where a petitioner alleges the willful refusal of one party to consummate the
marriage it may not be presented by the party against whom the allegation is made.
75. Effect of a decree of annulment
The parties to a marriage which has been annulled by decree absolute of the
court shall be deemed never to have been married but a decree of annulment shall
not—
(a) render lawful anything which was done unlawfully during the marriage
or render unlawful anything which was done lawfully during the
marriage; or
(b) affect the competence of either of the parties as a witness in respect
of anything done or omitted to be done, or any privilege in respect of
communications between them, during the—
(i) marriage; or
(ii) relieve either party of any debt properly incurred on behalf of
the other during the marriage.
PART XI – OTHER RIGHTS OF ACTION
76. Effect of a promise to marry
Except as provided in this section a promise by a person to marry another
person is not binding.
PART XII – MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSE AND OTHER RELIEFS
77. Grounds for order of maintenance
(1) The court may order a person to pay maintenance to a spouse or a former
spouse—
(a) if the person has refused or neglected to provide for the spouse or
former spouse as required by this Act;
(b) if the person has deserted the other spouse or former spouse, for as
long as the desertion continues;
(c) during the course of any matrimonial proceedings;
(d) when granting or after granting a decree of separation or divorce; or
(e) if, after making a decree of presumption of death, the spouse or former
is found to be alive.
(2) The court may order the payment of maintenance to a spouse or former
spouse where a decree of separation, divorce or presumption of death is issued
by a foreign court and the court may declare that the decree of separation, divorce
or presumption of death is effective for the purposes of this section.

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78. Lapsing of maintenance

Except where an order for maintenance of a spouse is expressed to be for any
shorter period or where any such order has revoked and subject to section 79, the
order shall lapse—
(a) if the maintenance was unsecured, on the death of the spouse;
(b) if the maintenance was secured, on the death of the spouse in whose
favour it was made; or
(c) where the person being maintained is subsequently able to support
himself or herself.
79. Termination of an order of maintenance
An order of maintenance shall lapse upon the remarriage of the beneficiary of
the order.
80. Revocation and variation of an order for maintenance
(1) The court may revoke or vary a subsisting order for maintenance of any
kind, whether secured or unsecured, if it is satisfied that the order was based or
obtained as the result of any misrepresentation or mistake of fact or that there has
been a material change of circumstances since the order was made.
(2) The court may vary the terms of an agreement as to maintenance between
spouses wherever made if satisfied that there has been a material change of
circumstances since the agreement was made despite any provision to the contrary
contained therein.
81. Assessment of maintenance
Maintenance payable to a person under an order of the court shall not be
assigned or transferred or liable to be attached, sequestrated or levied upon for,
or in respect of, any debt or claim.
82. Recovery of maintenance arrears
(1) Despite any other period of limitation prescribed by the Limitation of Actions
Act (Cap. 22), no installment of maintenance shall be recoverable in proceedings
instituted after a period of three years from the date upon which the installment
accrued.
(2) Subject to subsection (1), arrears of unsecured maintenance, whether
payable by agreement under an order of the court, shall be a civil debt
recoverable summarily or, where they accrued due before the making of a receiving
order against the party in default, shall be provable in subsequent bankruptcy
proceedings and where they accrued before death, shall be a debt from the estate
of the deceased.
(3) Subject to subsection (1) arrears of unsecured maintenance which accrued
before the death of the person entitled shall be a civil debt recoverable summarily
by the legal personal representative of that person.
83. Compounding of maintenance
(1) The court may, if it is satisfied that a disposition of property has been made
by the spouse or former spouse of the person by or on whose behalf the application
is made, within the preceding three years, with the object on the part of the person
making the disposition of reducing the means to pay maintenance or of depriving
a spouse of any rights in relation to that property, or is intended to be made with

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any such object, on application, set aside the disposition or grant an injunction
prohibiting that disposition, as the case may be.
(2) Where the disposition of property under subsection (1) is by sale to a bona
fide purchaser for value, the court may grant orders as though the sale had taken
place.
(3) In this section, "disposition" includes a sale, lease, mortgage or other
transaction whereby ownership or possession of the property is transferred or
encumbered but does not include a disposition made from money or monies worth
to or in favour of a person acting in good faith and in ignorance of the object for
which the disposition is made.
84. Other relief
(1) The court may order a party to refrain from molesting a spouse or former
spouse.
(2) No proceedings may be brought to compel one spouse to cohabit with the
other, but a spouse who alleges that he or she has been deserted may refer the
matter to a conciliatory body.
(3) Where either the husband or wife has, without reasonable grounds,
withdrawn from the society of the other, the aggrieved party may make an
application to the court for restitution of conjugal rights and the court, on being
satisfied of the truth of the statements made in such application and there being
no legal ground why the application should not be granted, may order restitution
of conjugal rights accordingly.
85. Order concerning children
Custody and maintenance of children shall be dealt with in accordance with the
Children Act (Cap. 141) and any other written law relating to children.
PART XIII – OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
86. False statement in the notice of intention to marry or notice of objection
(1) Any person who, in a notice of intention to marry under section 25 or notice
of objection to an intended marriage under section 28, makes a false statement
commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two years or fine not exceeding two million shillings or to both.
(2) A person does not commit an offense under this section if that person had
reasonable grounds for believing the statement to be true when that person made
the statement.
87. Marriage to a person under minimum age
Any person who marries a person who is below the minimum age commits an
offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
five years or a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to both.
88. Marriage of persons within prohibited marriage relationship
(1) A party to a purported celebration of a marriage where the parties are within
a prohibited marriage relationship commits an offence and shall on conviction be
liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding
three hundred thousand shillings or to both.

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(2) A person may not be convicted of an offence under this section if that the
person did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to discover the
relationship.
(3) A person charged under subsection (1) may include a witness to the
purported celebration of the marriage.
89. Coercion, fraud, etc.
A party to a ceremony purporting to be a marriage who at the time, knows or
has reason to believe that the consent of the other party was induced by coercion
or fraud or by a mistake as to the nature of the ceremony or that the other party
was suffering from any mental disorders or mental disability whether permanent
or temporary or was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, so as not fully to
appreciate the nature or purport or the ceremony, commits an offence and shall on
conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine
of three hundred thousand shillings or to both.
90. Ceremony performed by unauthorized person
A person who celebrates a union purporting to be a marriage and who at the
time of the ceremony is not authorised to do so commits an offence and shall on
conviction be is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a
fine of three hundred thousand shillings or to both.
91. Absence of witnesses
A person who celebrates a union purporting to be a marriage at which the
required witnesses are not present commits an offence and shall on conviction
be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not
exceeding ten thousand shillings or to both.
92. Offence relating to the celebration or witnessing of a union
(1) A person commits an offence if that person celebrates or witnesses a union
purporting to be a marriage where that person knows or should know that—
(a) at least one party is below the age of eighteen years;
(b) a notice of intention to marry where required has not been given; or
(c) a notice of objection to the intended marriage has been given and the
objection has not been withdrawn, dismissed or determined.
(2) A person convicted under subsection (1) is liable to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to both.
PART XIV – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
93. Celebration of other marriages
(1) A marriage recognised under section 6 may be celebrated in accordance
to the rules made by the Cabinet Secretary.
(2) The Cabinet Secretary may make rules for the celebration of any marriage.
94. Provisions on delegated powers
(1) The Cabinet Secretary may make regulations for the better carrying into
effect of this Act.
(2) Despite subsection (1), regulations may provide for—
(a) forms to be used and fees to be paid in respect of any application or
licence made or issued;

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(b) the manner in which notices of intention to marry are to be made

known;
(c) the form for the giving of any notice required under this Act;
(d) the form of explanation to be given by a person authorised by the
Registrar to the parties to an intended marriage in civil form or
according to rites recognized by customary law as the case may be
before asking them whether the marriage is to be monogamous or
polygamous or potentially polygamous;
(e) the forms of licences and marriage certificate to be issued by the
Registrar;
(f) the form of statement of particulars relating to marriage to be used by
registration officers;
(g) the procedure for registration and the form of returns to be made and
the register to be kept under this Act;
(h) the payment of fees under this Act; and
(i) anything required to be prescribed under this Act.
95. Rules
The Rules Committee established under the provisions of the Civil Procedure
Act (Cap. 21) may make rules regulating court practice or procedure under this Act.
96. Transitional Provisions
(1) A person who, immediately before the date of commencement of this Act,
was a Registrar of Marriages under the Marriage Act (Cap. 150) (now repealed) or
the African Christian Marriage and Divorce Act (Cap. 151) (now repealed), or an
assistant Registrar under the Islamic Marriage and Divorce Registration Act (Cap.
155) (now repealed), shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, send all registers of
marriages and divorces to the Registrar.
(2) Parties to a marriage contracted under customary law, the Hindu Marriage
and Divorce Act (Cap. 157) (now repealed) or the Islamic Marriage and Divorce
Registration Act (now repealed) before commencement of this Act, which is not
registered shall apply to the Registrar or County Registrar to assistant Registrar
for the registration of that marriage under this Act within three years of the coming
to force of this Act.
(3) The parties to a customary marriage shall register such a marriage within
three years of the coming to force of this Act.
(4) The Cabinet Secretary may extend the registration period under this section
by notice in the Gazette.
97. Repeals
The Acts of Parliament listed in the Schedule are repealed.
98. Savings
(1) A subsisting marriage which under any written or customary law hitherto in
force constituted a valid marriage immediately before the coming to force of this
Act is valid for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Proceedings commenced under any written law shall, so far as practicable,
be continued in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

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(3) Despite subsection (2), an order for judicial separation or decree of divorce
granted under any written law shall in relation to the powers of the court regarding
maintenance be deemed to be a decree of separation or divorce as the case may
granted under this Act.

SCHEDULE
[s. 97]

Repealed Acts

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