Section 47 — Matrimonial Causes Act 1973: Matrimonial relief and declarations of validity in respect of polygamous marriages.

Matrimonial relief and declarations of validity in respect of polygamous marriages. 47 1 A court in England and Wales shall not be precluded from granting matrimonial relief or making a declaration concerning the validity of a marriage by reason only that either party to the marriage is, or has during the subsistence of the marriage been, married to more than one person .

2 In this section “ matrimonial relief ” means—

a any order under Part I of this Act;

b a financial provision order under section 27 above;

c an order under section 35 above altering a maintenance agreement;

d an order under any provision of this Act which confers a power exercisable in connection with, or in connection with proceedings for, any such ... order as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) above;

dd an order under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984;

e an order under Part I of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 .

3 In this section “ a declaration concerning the validity of a marriage ” means any declaration under Part III of the Family Law Act 1986 involving a determination as to the validity of a marriage 4 Provision may be made by rules of court—

a for requiring notice of proceedings brought by virtue of this section to be served on any additional spouse of a party to the marriage in question;

and b for conferring on any such additional spouse the right to be heard in the proceedings, in such cases as may be specified in the rules.