FAQs

I will of course be guiding you through all the legal requirements for your marriage to comply with the Marriage Act 1961 so there is no need to study them. However, to prepare yourself you might like to read the information detailed below.

Legal requirements to marry in Australia

You must be over the age of 18 to marry (exceptions are permitted upon authority of the Court on a case by case basis) – See here for further information

Forms

There are two forms to fill out prior to the wedding: A Notice of Intended Marriage and a Form 14

A Notice of Intended Marriage form (NoIM) must be completed and provided to me at least one month prior to your wedding ceremony (and no more than 18 months before the ceremony). This will be sent to the BDM within 14 days of your ceremony- you can download the form here and I will send you a copy

In order to complete the NoIM I will need to see original copies of the following documents:

1. ID which shows your date and place of birth. If you were born in Australia you need your original birth certificate or passport. If you don’t have access to ID stating your name and place of birth, you can discuss options with me. If you were born outside of Australia then your overseas passport is required.   If this is not available you may provide your birth certificate.  
2. Proof of your identity (this can be your Driver’s Licence, Passport, or Australian Citizenship Certificate).
3. If you were previously married the original copy of your divorce certificate is required.  In the circumstances of death the original death certificate of your partner is required.  These need to be sighted by me at any time prior to the ceremony, and the certificate number is recorded on the NOIM.

All documents must be legible in English. If documents are in a language other than English you must provide a certified translation by NAATI. There is information on how to do this on their website. http://www.naati.com.au/

Prior to your marriage, you must sign a declaration (Form 14), stating there is no legal impediment to your marriage. This is to confirm that all details on the certificates on the day are correct and that you are still eligible to wed. We will usually sign this on the morning of the wedding. This will be sent to the BDM within 14 days of your ceremony.

Happily Ever Before and After Document

In order to help support you on you journey as a married couple I am required to provide you with a document called the Happily Ever Before and After. This is an educational document about marriage which I will send to you as a PDF.

Witnesses to the Marriage

The marriage must be witnessed by two (2) people who are over 18 years. They will sign the marriage documents on the day so let those people know in advance.

Non English Speakers

If one of the wedding party does not speak English there must be a NAATI approved translator

Legal Wording

Particular wording must be incorporated in the ceremony (e.g. vows and the Monitum). I will discuss this and work with you to include this wording in the ceremony whilst still ensuring the ceremony is uniquely yours.

Paperwork to Sign at the Ceremony

During the ceremony, you and your two witnesses will sign three certificates:

1. Certificate retained in the Marriage Register by your marriage celebrant
2. Certificate forwarded to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days of your marriage
3. A decorative certificate given to you as a record of your marriage. This certificate is an official document and evidence of marital status, but it is not a proof of identity document. It cannot be replaced.

I will provide you with the necessary forms and take care of lodging the legal documents with the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Changing your name

It is not a legal requirement for a person to change their last name to their spouse’s upon marriage. However, if you wish to do so, you must notify the relevant authorities and provide proof of marriage. Most authorities require a registry-issued marriage certificate as proof of marriage. I do not provide this as standard, it is an additional cost.

Any further information can be found here:

Births Deaths and Marriages

Attorney Generals Dept

Registered Certificate fees and turnaround times