Legal Marriage in Australia is defined as the union of a man and woman to the exclusion of all others. This marriage must be authorized by a Civil Marriage Celebrant or Member of the Clergy.
Who can marry in Australia?
To marry in Australia persons must be of opposite sex and 18 years of age or over. Exceptions may be made if one person is 16 years of age and under 18, with parents consent plus an Order of the Court. One partner in this union must be 18 years of age or over. People from overseas countries can marry in Australia. The same documentation must be provided to the Celebrant as for Australian citizens. Please contact me about your individual case.
What papers will I need to show the
Celebrant?
A birth certificate (if born overseas, a foreign passport may be acceptable); and
- If previously married and divorced, a decree absolute of the divorce.
If divorced in Australia, this is obtained from the
Family Court of Australia; or
- If previously married and widowed, a death certificate must be
presented.
What paperwork will I need to complete?
The couple must complete a "Notice of Intended Marriage" at least 31 days and
no longer than 18 months before the proposed ceremony. This form will be
provided for you by your Civil Celebrant or can be downloaded from the
Australian Federal Attorney General's Department Website.
What proof of Marriage will I receive?
You will be required to sign 3 marriage certificates following the ceremony. The first is the official certificate which the celebrant will send to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to officially register the marriage, the second is a duplicate which the celebrant keeps as his/her record of the marriage and the third is a numbered Wedding Certificate, often referred to as the parties' certificate, which you will be given as a keepsake.
How do I change my name?
If a female wishes to change their name after marriage, she must now apply
for a Marriage Certificate from the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriage
in her State or Territory. Your numbered Certificate given to you by your
Celebrant is sometimes not considered proof of identity for banking institutions,
driver's license or passport applications. This is why it is necessary to
apply to the Registrar for that Certificate. This is just a copy of the
information that the Celebrant sends them, but with a registered number on it.
If a male wishes to change his name after marriage, he
must apply for a change of name form from the Registrar of Births Deaths
and Marriages in his state.
