Getting Married in Australia
There are certain legal requirements to marry in Australia. As your marriage celebrant, it is my job to ensure these are carried out and you have a valid and legally binding marriage.
The advantages of using a civil marriage celebrant not only guarantee your wedding ceremony is created according to your wishes and values, but can be solemnised anywhere in Australia. This gives you total control of your ceremony and allows you to create something that is truly personal and unique.
The advantages of using a civil marriage celebrant not only guarantee your wedding ceremony is created according to your wishes and values, but can be solemnised anywhere in Australia. This gives you total control of your ceremony and allows you to create something that is truly personal and unique.
Notice of Intended Marriage Form
You must lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage form with your wedding celebrant no sooner than one month and no later than eighteen months before you are married.
You can complete this at the time of booking and your celebrant can witness your signatures.
Remember, the one month waiting period does not start until your celebrant has the completed and signed form in their possession.
Download Adobe Reader to open PDF documents.
You can complete this at the time of booking and your celebrant can witness your signatures.
Remember, the one month waiting period does not start until your celebrant has the completed and signed form in their possession.
Download Adobe Reader to open PDF documents.
Identification Required to Marry in Australia
There are forms of identification that your celebrant must sight prior to your marriage. These include:
- Original birth certificate or extract of birth plus photo ID (drivers licence) or
- Original overseas or Australian passport (This can be current or expired but not cancelled)
- If it is impracticable for an overseas born person to obtain their birth certificate or passport, a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration must be completed
- A change of name certificate if you have changed your name
- If you have been previously married you will require evidence of the end of that marriage
- Original Death Certificate
- Original Divorce Certificate
- A court order and written consent from your parents if one party is under 18
- Documents not in English must be accompanied by an accredited English translation
Change of Name After Marriage
Many people choose to take their spouse's surname after marriage, though this is not compulsory.
If so, you will need to apply for a standard registry-issued marriage certificate available from Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages.
You can apply for this at any time once your marriage is registered and provide proof of ID in person or via post. Alternatively, I can sight the required identification and Births, Deaths and Marriages will contact you to organise payment.
It is important to realise that the presentation marriage certificate given to you on your wedding day, although legal evidence of your marriage, is not an identity document and many institutions will not recognise this to change your name. It is also worth noting that this certificate can never be replaced if it gets damaged or lost.
If so, you will need to apply for a standard registry-issued marriage certificate available from Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages.
You can apply for this at any time once your marriage is registered and provide proof of ID in person or via post. Alternatively, I can sight the required identification and Births, Deaths and Marriages will contact you to organise payment.
It is important to realise that the presentation marriage certificate given to you on your wedding day, although legal evidence of your marriage, is not an identity document and many institutions will not recognise this to change your name. It is also worth noting that this certificate can never be replaced if it gets damaged or lost.