LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

To ensure you have a full understanding of the legal requirements of Marriage, I will provide you with information in all areas to comply with the Marriage Act 1961.

You are legally required to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NIM), and book it with your Celebrant one month and one day, prior to your wedding day, and it is valid for eighteen months.
This form may be downloaded from the Attorney General's web site on: www.ag.gov.au/celebrants.
The NIM must not be signed until you are with your Celebrant, or another authorized person, examples of which are given on the NIM.

If you are under eighteen, you will need an order for permission to marry, granted by a Judge or Magistrate which you can obtain from your local Family Law Court.

You will be required to produce for your Celebrant, Birth Certificates if you are Australian Citizens, or overseas Passports if you are not. If you have been previously married, you must either produce a Death Certificate, or a Decree Absolute, as required.

FOR THE CEREMONY TO BE LEGAL, BY LAW THE CELEBRANT MUST:

1. Identify themselves at the wedding ceremony, as an Authorized Civil Celebrant, and must say the Monitum, (Section 46), in the presence of the parties, the witnesses, and the guests.

2. See and hear the Vows being exchanged and sign the papers as required by the Marriage Act, and register the marriage.

3. Both parties must have their full names stated once during the ceremony, they must say the words, "lawful wedded in the Vows", and they must acknowledge the presence of witnesses when saying their vows, e.g. "I call upon the persons here present to witness... "

It is the responsibility of the Celebrant to register the marriage within 14 days of the ceremony. If you require a translator or interpreter, I can give you this information as required.

THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

The certificate you receive at your wedding is not sufficient for some providers, e.g. the RTA, who will require a Registered copy of your Marriage Certificate, which can be obtained from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages for $44.00. If an urgent certificate is required the cost is $65.00.
This can be downloaded from: www.bdm.nsw.gov.au in the Marriage Certificate section, but I can provide you with an Application Form in your package.
I will register your marriage on-line, usually within 48 hours of the wedding, and I can order and pay for your official certificate at that time if you wish.

For all other enquiries, including information regarding fees, please see Contact page.