Marriage Legalities

For your marriage to be legally recognised in Australia you need to register it by completing a Notice of Intended Marriage form. This form is usually completed with your marriage celebrant (who will have copies of this document). In order to lodge the Notice of Intended Marriage form there documents that must be sighted by your celebrant, these are:

• Birth certificate (originals or extracts only)
• Passport, if you are a citizen of a country other than Australia
• A Decree Absolute, if you are divorced from a previous marriage
• If either of you are under 18, your parent's consent & an order from a magistrate
• If you are previously widowed, a death certificate
• A statutory declaration if you were born overseas and have lost your documentation

This Form must be lodged no later than one day and one month prior to your wedding date and must not be completed any sooner than 18 months prior to your wedding ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony you will also need to complete a Declaration stating that there is no legal obstruction to your marriage.
On your wedding day, after you have said your vows you will both sign a presentation wedding certificate, and two copies of an ‘Official’ marriage certificate. One copy is kept by your celebrant and the other is sent Birth Deaths and Marriages in which your marriage took place.
For overseas couples wishing to marry in Australia, this Notice of Intended Marriage can be obtained from any Australian Consulate or Embassy.