Let's discuss some of the little bits of your wedding that don't seem important, until they are - making your marriage legal in Australia. It's pretty simple, but having a bit of an idea of what needs to be completed by both you, and your celebrant, can save you a headache in the long run. I'm sure making the fun decisions of your ceremony is a better way to spend time than needing to redo any legal docs!
The first form to fill in is the Notice of Intended Marriage (affectionately called NOIM amongst celebrants). It requires two parts:
The first is to fill out your details, as per your identity documents. You and your partner then sign this section in the presence of an authorised witness. If you see your celebrant in person, they can do this with you. Otherwise, the document contains a list of additional authorised witnesses you can use (my personal favourite that I find way easier in this situation is to pop down to the local police station to ask a member of the Australian Federal Police). Of course, if you're outside of Australia at the time of signing, this is a different kettle of fish and worth talking to your celebrant about in more detail.
You need to have your identity confirmed by your celebrant. These identity documents need to include your date and place of birth, plus a photograph of yourself. Ideally, a passport accomplishes both of these things. In the case of those without one, a combination of driver's licence and birth certificate work well.
The most important part is that this document needs to be submitted to your celebrant at least one month before your wedding. This is the kind of homework you don't want to dawdle on, and get done in an appropriate time frame (the earliest you can lodge is 18 months before your wedding date).
On the eve or morning of your big day, you will have a quick document to sign - the Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage. This form uses information from the NOIM to confirm that, closer to the wedding, everything is still legally in order to proceed on the day. You will be asked to sign this document, perhaps while getting ready or at a rehearsal with your celebrant.
This is it! The moment you've been waiting for... your wedding ceremony!! There is SO much flexibility in what your special moment looks like, as the legal part is quite small in reality. Your celebrant needs to recite the monitum, a particular legally required phrase, during the ceremony in front of at least two witnesses. As the couple getting married, you need to recite one particular sentence of your vows, in front of your two witnesses also. That's it folks... teeny tiny! Your ceremony can involve these parts so minutely that you forget it's even there.
Almost there to being a fully fledged married couple!
Lastly, you will be asked to sign Official Certificates of Marriage with your celebrant and your two chosen witnesses. There are two copies of this document, containing the same information as the NOIM. Both go with the celebrant for lodging with the Attorney General's Department. The third document that you sign is the one you get to keep on the day - your Certificate of Marriage. Make sure you know who is keeping hold of this document for you in the flurry and blur of the activities!
Lastly, if you're looking at keeping an Official Certificate of Marriage, you or your celebrant will need to order this through Births, Deaths and Marriages online. This is the actual document that certifies your marriage, and can be used for things like changing your name or proving you are married to any authorities. I think it's a must in keeping on file.
Just remember, the whole way through the process, your celebrant is there as part of your support network in completing the paperwork side of things. They will triple check everything and make sure your wedding is in top working order. There is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to planning your wedding, so reach out anytime!
Cheers,
Sam xx
*The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Every situation is unique, and laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction. *
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