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January 2022
A Quick Guide to... Predatory Marriage
What is Predatory Marriage?
Predatory Marriage is the practice of intentionally targeting and marrying a vulnerable (often older) person in order to gain access to their estate and assets upon their death. Predatory Marriage relies on grooming and coercion to exert control over another person to persuade them to marry for financial, material or other gain.
What does the law say?
In UK law, marriage and civil partnerships rely on consent. The Marriage Act 1989 requires that two adult parties agree to a marriage, it is implicit that they understand and agree to marry by giving informed consent which is dependent on capacity to make decisions as determined by the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
The Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 created the criminal offence of forced marriage. It is a criminal offence to marry a person who lacks the mental capacity to consent to the marriage, regardless of any pressure. It is also a crime to pressure someone to marry by any means.
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How do predators target those at risk?
Grooming
Predators may identify a vulnerable target and spend time “grooming” them to persuade them that they hold them in high esteem and to make them feel valued and loved.
Predators often describe themselves as the victims carer. In some cases the predator may move into the home.
Isolation
Predators may spend time creating physical and emotional divisions between the individual and their friends and family to ensure only their voice is heard in isolation.
Harassment
Predators may stimulate or create conflict and division within families and friendship networks to further isolate the person.
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What are the signs and indicators?
The signs and indicators are similar to other types of abuse, the person may appear isolated, withdrawn, fearful or unsure about their relationship or the people around them. However, when dementia is present, the victim may not be confused or fearful.
Presenting as ‘pleasantly confused’ should not be interpreted as consenting. There have been cases where individuals with dementia have been targeted, married covertly and the marriage only comes to light sadly following their death.
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Joan Blass
Joan was born in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria and was a victim of predatory marriage. Joan Blass was 91 with severe dementia and terminal cancer. After her death in March 2016, her family found out that a much younger man, age 68, had secretly married her five months previously.
Joan never knew that she was married, and the events after her death had a devastating effect on her family both emotionally and financially.
You can read the story of Joan, who sadly was a victim of predatory marriage here and the campaign of Joan's daughter, Daphne Franks and family which continues to raise awareness of predatory abuse to protect those at risk.
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