Legitimacy law in England and Wales


Legitimacy law in England and Wales is governed by the pertinent legislation and by case law.

Provisions

Section 2 of the Legitimacy Act 1976 provides as follows:
Extract from Hershman McFarlane Section A.5

Application to the succession to the British throne

While children who are born to parents who are unmarried at the time of birth but subsequently marry are thereby made legitimate, this does not apply to the succession to the British throne. The Legitimacy Act 1926, s 10 says, "Nothing in this Act shall affect the Succession to any dignity or title of honour or render any person capable of succeeding to or transmitting a right to succeed to any such dignity or title." The Legitimacy Act 1959, s 6 says, "It is hereby declared that nothing in this Act affects the Succession to the Throne."