What are the legal requirements for marriage in Australia?
(a) You must both be over 18 years of age. If one person is under the age of 18, marriage is still possible by parental consent as per section 12 of the Marriage Act.
(b) A Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) must be lodged with a Celebrant at least one calendar month prior to the wedding ceremony. I will prepare the document and witness your execution of the document. I must also sight your original birth certificates or passports. If either of you have been previously married, I will need to sight an original Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate. Certified copies of supporting documentation cannot be accepted.
- To obtain a copy of your Birth Certificate or Death Certificate of your former spouse, contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
- If you require a copy of your Divorce Certificate or Decree Absolute, contact the Family Law Court in the state in which the marriage was dissolved. For further details visit Family Law Courts.
- If parties born overseas do not have a passport and are unable to obtain a full birth certificate, I can prepare a statutory declaration for your execution.
- Foreign language documents must be translated into English and a NAATI accredited Translation Certificate supplied.
(c) The ceremony must be witnessed by two people, over the age of eighteen years. I cannot act as a witness.
(c) The Marriage Act 1961 requires that certain statements are included in your ceremony. I will explain this in more detail at our first meeting.
What if we wish to be married sooner than the minimum time permits?
If special circumstances exist, a Prescribed Authority may approve your Application to Shorten Period of Notice of Intent to Marry.
Special circumstances are:
- Employment related or other travel commitments.
- Wedding or celebration arrangements or religious considerations.
- Medical reasons.
- Legal proceedings.
- Error in giving notice.
You must attach documents as evidence of your reason for shortening, such as letters of employment, travel documents, airline tickets, receipts of payment, letters from medical practitioners or court orders. Your executed NOIM, copies of your supporting identity documents and a letter from your celebrant should also be included.
What can and can’t we include in our marriage ceremony?
A Civil Marriage Celebrant has certain obligations under the Marriage Act 1961. I will explain these to you during our first meeting. Once these obligations are met, the contents of the marriage ceremony are up to you. I can write the entire ceremony as overseen by you or guide you in writing your own ceremony.
Who can act as a witness to the ceremony?
Two people, over the age of eighteen are required to act as witnesses. They should be able to speak and understand English, otherwise an interpreter will be required. At the completion of the ceremony you, the Marriage Celebrant and the witnesses will be required to sign the Marriage Register and Marriage Certificate.
What is a surprise wedding ceremony?
A surprise wedding ceremony is a ceremony whereby most guests, if not all, only learn that a marriage ceremony is to take place moments beforehand. Often guests arrive believing they are attending an engagement or birthday party. The surprise element cannot extend to either party of the marriage. In other words, no matter how romantic or appropriate the gesture may seem, a Groom cannot surprise his Bride (or vice versa) with a marriage ceremony.
Do we have to attend any pre-marital courses?
No. However you may wish to contact the organisations below:
Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 www.relationships.com.au
Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321 www.familyrelationships.gov.au
I will also provide you with the pamphlet Happily Ever… Before and After.
How do I change my name after the marriage ceremony?
After the wedding I will lodge your legal paperwork with Births, Deaths and Marriages. Once lodged you will receive an official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages via registered post (may take a few weeks) – this is included within all my fees. You will then take this official Marriage Certificate as evidence to Transport Department, Medicare etc. to change your name. I will send you a detailed email after the wedding explaining the process to change your name.
A valid marriage certificate will not change the name on a birth certificate / birth record.
Can I use the Marriage Certificate we receive at our marriage ceremony to evidence a name change?
No. The certificate you receive at the end of your ceremony is a commemorative certificate and will not support your application to change your identity documents. I will lodge the official documentation with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on your behalf after the marriage ceremony. You will receive the official Marriage Certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages via registered post – it may take a few weeks (this is included in my fees).
We are having a commitment ceremony but I still wish to change my surname. How do I do this?
As your ceremony will not be a legally recognised marriage ceremony, you will not be issued with an official marriage certificate by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. After your ceremony, you will need to contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and lodge an Application to Register a Change of Name. The process will cost approximately $90. You will then be issued with a Change of Name Certificate. This can be used to change your identification documents.
Do you conduct interstate or international ceremonies?
Yes! I’m happy to travel.