Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542

Laws in Wales Act 1535
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Acte for Laws & Justice to be ministred in Wales in like fourme as it is in this Realme.
Citation27 Hen. 8. c. 26
Territorial extent Wales, Marcher Lordships
Dates
Royal assent14 April 1536
Repealed21 December 1993
Other legislation
Amended by
Repealed byWelsh Language Act 1993
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Laws in Wales Act 1542
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Acte for certaine Ordinaunces in the Kinges Majesties Domynion and Principalitie of Wales.
Citation34 & 35 Hen. 8. c. 26
Territorial extent Wales, Marcher Lordships
Dates
Royal assent12 May 1543
Repealed3 January 1995
Other legislation
Amended by
Repealed bySale of Goods (Amendment) Act 1994
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 (Welsh: Y Deddfau Cyfreithiau yng Nghymru 1535 a 1542) or the Acts of Union (Welsh: Y Deddfau Uno), were Acts of the Parliament of England under King Henry VIII of England, causing Wales to be incorporated into the realm of the Kingdom of England.

The legal system of England and the norms of English administration including the use of the English language only were applied to a mainly Welsh-speaking Wales. This created a single state and legal jurisdiction, which is now called England and Wales.

Before these Acts, Wales had already been annexed by England in 1284 and was excluded from parliamentary representation. Wales was divided between the Principality of Wales and many feudal statelets called the marcher Lordships which were effectively unified under the laws. The English county system was also extended across all of Wales.