Section 4 of Marriage Act states that no marriage may be solemnized except under the authority of a licence issued in accordance with the Act or the publication of banns.
However, section 31 of the Act provides four conditions for establishing a valid marriage even when the conditions of section 4 are not met:
1. The marriage must have been solemnized in good faith;
2. The marriage must have been intended to be in compliance with the Marriage Act;
3. Neither party was under a legal disqualification to contract marriage; and
4. The parties must have lived together and cohabited as a married couple after solemnization.
Therefore, even without a marriage license or registration, the ceremonial marriage between two persons may be declared to be a valid marriage bestowing rights under the law.
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