Legal Requirements for Marrying in Australia
Getting married really is a simple process, however I have included the following information about getting married In Australia:
Toget married in Australia you will need the following:
- Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
- Original Birth Certificates or Certified Copies (if born in Australia)
- International Passport (if coming from overseas)
- Original Divorce Decree Absolute (if you have been married before and divorced)
- Death Certificate of previous spouse (if you have been widowed)
- Proof of Name Change (if you have legally changed your name)
Notice of Intended Marriage
Before you may marry, the law requires that you sign and lodge with me the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM).This form must be submitted to me a minimum of one calendar month and one day prior to your wedding. You can submit your NOIM in person, via fax or mail, however you must bring the original NOIM with you when we meet. The NOIM form will remain active for 18 calendar months from the date of submission.
Original and Certified copies Birth Certificate/ Passports/ and other evidence/certificates can be either original or certified documents. Photocopies need to certified by a qualified witness (i.e. Justice of the Peace, Barrister/Solicitor/ Commissioner for Declarations or a Notary public). They need to clearly write on the photocopy ‘A correct copy of the document’, then sign it and include their qualification/license number.
Are you under 18 years of age?
If a party to an intended marriage has not turned 18 (unless he or she has previously been married), he or she must obtain the necessary consents or dispensations required under the Marriage Act 1961, and the authorized celebrant must sight those consents or dispensations before proceeding with the marriage. Also, a person under 18 years is not of marriageable age, and cannot be a party to a marriage, unless he or she obtains an order from the court under section 12 of the Act.
Witnesses:
You will need two people (one each) to witness the ceremony. This can be anyone over the age of 18 – parent, sibling, someone from the bridal party etc. If you need assistance with this please let me know. You must be over 18 years of age to marry in Australia.
