The Marriage Process
Under the Marriage Act 1961 there are certain obligations that you, as a couple intending to get married, must meet prior to a marriage ceremony being solemnised.
It’s essential for couples to be aware of these obligations to ensure a smooth and legally recognised marriage ceremony.
Visit the Attorney General’s Department website for comprehensive information on the rules and requirements for getting married in Australia. You can find all the details you need on their official website.
Submit a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
Couples must submit a completed and signed Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) to their chosen Marriage Celebrant at least one calendar month and no more than eighteen months before the marriage ceremony. This form is usually completed during the initial meeting with the celebrant.
Meet with your Celebrant & Show ID
As well as the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), before the marriage can take place both parties must provide the authorised celebrant evidence of their date and place of birth. This can be a birth certificate, an official extract from a birth register or an Australian or overseas passport that has not been cancelled.
Before the marriage can take place, the authorised celebrant must also be satisfied that you are one of the people named in the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). Photographic evidence of identity such as a passport, a driver’s licence, a proof of age card or an official identity card will assist the authorised celebrant in meeting this requirement.
The document numbers are recorded on the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
Advise of any previous marriages
If either party has been legally married previously, evidence of how the last marriage ended must also be supplied.
This can be in the form of a Divorce Decree, Death Certificate or Declaration of Nullity (Court Annulment Certificate) or a CeNoMar (Certificate of No Marriage if you are from the Philippines; or a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage issued by a relevant authority.
Sign a declaration
Before the ceremony can proceed, both parties to the marriage must, in the presence of the celebrant, sign a Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage (DONLIM). This confirms there are no legal grounds preventing the marriage from taking place.
The celebrant will have this form ready for you.
It can be signed during the consent meeting, a rehearsal, or any other meeting as close as possible to the ceremony.
International Couples
International couples don’t need to do anything other than what is outlined on this page for locally born couples, so feel free to head to the top of this page to understand the process for all.
Visit the Attorney General’s Department website for comprehensive information on the rules and requirements for getting married in Australia. You can find all the details you need on their official website.