Legal Requirements
I will comply with the Marriage Celebrants Code of Conduct as per the Marriage Act 1961, as required by law and will ensure you have a full understanding of all legal requirements of a Marriage.
It is a legal requirement to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage form and lodge it with your Celebrant one calendar month prior to your wedding day. It is valid for 18 months.
The Notice of Intended Marriage form can be downloaded from the Attorney-General’s website http://www.ag.gov.au/celebrants or simply obtained from me. Please do not sign the Notice of Intended Marriage Form as the signing must be witnessed by the Celebrant or other authorised person.
Marriage of any person under the age of 18 years requires an order from a judge or magistrate. No two persons under the age of 18 years can marry.
Certain documentation must be produced and sighted by the celebrant before the marriage is solemnized i.e. Birth Certificates for Australians; Overseas passports (Australian passports are not accepted); and in the case of a previous marriage a Decree Absolute or Death Certificate must be produced.
The Marriage Celebrant must:
- Identify themselves to the assembled parties, as the celebrant authorised to solemnise the marriage and say the words required by section 46 (Monitum), in the presence of the parties, the formal witnesses and the guests before the marriage is solemnised;
- Ensure that they see and hear the vows being exchanged, because it is the exchange of vows that constitutes the marriage; minimum statement of vows must be included
- Sign the papers required by the Act and register the marriage.
Registering the Marriage
Marriage Celebrants are responsible for registering the marriage within 14 days of the ceremony taking place.
Marriage Certificate
At your wedding you will be presented with a Marriage Certificate. This certificate is conclusive evidence of your marriage but not of your identity. Some entities e.g. Passport Office & RTA require you to produce a registered copy of your Marriage Certificate. This is obtained from Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in your State.
I will be provide you with an Application for a Registered Marriage Certificate and send it with your other legal paperwork or it can be downloaded from www.justice.qld.gov.au in the Marriage Certificates section if required.