Short title and commencement
1. This Act is the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures for Solemnization and Registration of Marriages) Act 2020 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.
Solemnization and registration of marriages under Women's Charter using remote communication technology
2.—(1) Despite anything in section 17(2B), 22(2), 28(2)(b), 29(1) or (3)(b), 40(1)(b) or 43(2) or (3)(b) of the Women's Charter (Cap. 353) requiring, or relating to, the presence or appearance of any person to perform any act, or to witness or attest the doing of anything, under any of those provisions, such person is taken to be present or to appear for that purpose during the specified period if—
- (a) the person, with the permission of the Registrar, attends and performs that act, or witnesses or attests the doing of that thing, through the use of a live video or live television link that is created using a remote communication technology approved by the Registrar;
- (b) the person complies with such conditions that the Registrar considers necessary or expedient to impose relating to the use of the remote communication technology;
- (c) the Registrar is satisfied that there are sufficient administrative and technical facilities and arrangements made at the place where the person is located; and
- (d) both parties and the witnesses (if required) to an intended marriage, a proposed marriage or a marriage (as the case may be) are all in Singapore.
(2) If a notice of marriage is given under section 14 of the Women's Charter on or after the relevant date, the reference to the period of 3 months in sections 16(2), 17(1), 18 and 40(1)(c) of the Women's Charter is taken to be a reference to the period of 12 months starting after the date such notice is given (called in this section the extended period).
