Hi,
I am 23 y/old girl and my parents have fixed an engagement without my consent. I even tried talking to the other family and informed that I am neither interested nor have I given my approval, yet they refused to cancel engagement plans and even sent out cards to their relatives. I am worried that I will be coerced into the engagement and subsequently into marriage probably through force and intimidation .
Q1. What legal avenues can I avail to prevent this from happening? Can I send a legal notice ( or cease desist ) to my parents or the other family to disengage in any activity related to my marriage without my prior consent? If not, then what other options do I have?
Q2. Should I already start collecting proof of some type to support my case that I am being forced? Or is my verbal assertion sufficient for basis of it being forced?
Q3. In the scenario, I am coerced into an engagement , how can I break it or seek legal respite?
Q4. What , if any, other non-legal avenues can I pursue to prevent being forced into marriage?
Thank You.