Legals & Fees
If you intend to marry, the following points need to be considered, as these are the legal requirements set down by the Australian Government in the ‘Marriage Act of 1961’ and ‘Marriage Regulations 1963’.
At our first meeting, it would help to save time if you bring the following documents with you, should you then decide to appoint me as your marriage celebrant.
NB All documents MUST be original — photocopies are NOT accepted (by law).
Notice of Intended Marriage (NIM) - I will provide this document which needs to be lodged no less than a month and a day prior to the wedding date. The wedding needs to be performed within 18 months of the NIM being signed.
Birth Certificate - If born in Australia, you must produce your original birth certificate or extract. If you don’t have one, you will need to apply for one to ‘Births, Deaths & Marriages’.
Change of Name - Original change of name certificate to be sighted. It is no longer permitted to use a ‘Deed Poll’ document.
Divorce - Original Decree Absolute to be sighted.
Death - Original Death Certificate to be sighted.
Passports - If travelling in Australia as an overseas visitor and you wish to marry here, then you are allowed to produce your current passport. If born outside Australia, but are an Australian resident, then you can show your passport (current or not), however, you will need to sign a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration as to the reason why you are unable to produce a Birth Certificate.
Under 18 - Persons over the age of 16, but under the age of 18 may only marry with the express consent of a judge or magistrate, whether the parents consent or not. The court order is then only valid for 3 months and the wedding must be performed within that time frame. No two people under 18 may marry under any circumstances.
Foreign documents not in English - These will need to be translated by an official translator and stamped and signed with his/ her name. Official translators can usually be found at Embassies or Consulates, or at the following web site address: www.naati.com.au Both documents then need to be sighted by the celebrant
You will need
TWO WITNESSES on the day of the wedding—they must be able to understand and speak English.
Fees - My current fee structure is based upon the current average fee for the service you require. There are also variables (usually for weddings), which may need to be taken into account, e.g. unusual venues (mountain tops, balloons, aircraft), length of time required for the ceremony (see unusual venues), long distance travel, overnight stays for ‘out of town’ ceremonies greater than 1.5 hours drive from northern Sydney. I am happy to discuss this with you at our initial meeting. There will be a 50% deposit required, should you appoint me – this is usual with the majority of celebrants.
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