Married at First Sight (MAFS) UK returned to our screens on Sunday, 21st September 2025, for the tenth season. As the name suggests, couples meet for the first time at their wedding, having been paired together by the show’s ‘love experts’ Paul C Brunson, Charlene Douglas, and Mel Schilling. People may be curious about the legal implications of these televised relationships, and from a family law perspective, the reality show raises important questions about marriage, separation, and financial claims.
Are MAFS UK couples legally married?
Whilst the weddings might look completely real, with the white dress, exchanging of vows and rings, the ceremonies do not create legally valid marriages. Since 2020, Channel 4 has followed the Australian version, where commitment ceremonies take place, which are symbolic and carry no legal weight. Whereas, in comparison, the USA version continues to create legal marriages on camera.
What if they were legally married?
This would create complications in the UK, as couples are required to wait at least one year from the date of marriage before being allowed to apply for divorce. Alternatively, an annulment may be required, but this is only available under specific grounds, such as non-consummation, fraud, or lack of valid consent.
Additionally, marriage grants each spouse the legal right to make a financial claim against the other under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Property, pensions, income, and capital are all things that can be subject to such a claim. Therefore, a couple that are legally married at first sight on the show, never live together and divorce as soon as they can, could try and claim transfer of property, or even a share of the other’s pension, for example.
Are financial claims likely to succeed?
Given the context of MAFS, it is unlikely that a claim in such circumstances would succeed unless there are exceptional circumstances. Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 outlines the factors the Court considers when assessing such claims, including the duration of the marriage. The shorter the marriage, the more the Court would expect such individuals to leave the marriage with what they brought into it, especially if there are no children and no shared assets. However, the family Court has wide discretion and can still make decisions based on what it thinks is fair in the individual circumstances.
Legal lessons from MAFS UK
MAFS UK highlights several family law issues:
- Marriage vs Cohabitation – a legally married couple can make financial claims, even after a relatively short marriage, whereas long-term cohabiting partners often cannot make such claims. This highlights a key disparity in family law between married and non-married couples.
- Prenuptial Agreements – whilst not legally binding, if entered into in accordance with certain requirements and provided they are fair, they can carry significant weight in a Court and so could protect the assets and income of an individual.
How can we help?
Harriet Starkey is a Paralegal in our Family Law team, which is ranked in Tier One in the independently researched publication, The Legal 500.
For more information or advice, please call Harriet or another member of our team in Derby, Leicester or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or contact us via our online form.
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