FAQ/Legalities

What do we do first?  You must be at least 18 years of age to marry in Australia. Before you can be married, Australian law requires you to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage and lodge it with an Authorised Marriage Celebrant. The notice can be provided by me or downloaded from the Attorney General's website www.ag.gov.au/celebrants. Once the NOIM is completed and lodged with me you can be married no sooner than one month and a day and no later than eighteen months from the date I receive the notice. Call me now for an informal chat to discuss your needs.

What documents de we need to bring with us? The documents you need to bring or produce before the marriage can take place are; 

• Original birth certificate or official extract

• Original certificate of divorce, annulment, or death certificate

• If born overseas and no birth certificate - overseas passport

• Photo ID - e.g. drivers licence, passport

Photocopies or Laminated documents are not acceptable in any circumstance. Documents must be translated into English by an accredited translator. To find one in your area go to www.naati.com.au

What happens if I don't have a birth certificate? If you were born in Australia you must provide your birth certificate or an authorised extract. If you were born overseas and can’t obtain a copy of your birth certificate, your current or expired overseas passport will be accepted.  If you do not have an overseas passport you will need to complete a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration (provided by me).

Where can we hold our ceremony? Your wedding can be held just about anywhere: beaches, parks, gardens, private homes, boats or restaurants. I will be happy to make some suggestions if you are unsure of a location. If you choose an outside location ensure you have an alternate venue in-case of bad weather. Contact the local council for any outside venues as some of them only charge if you have more than fifty people attending. Some Councils don't allow PA systems or amplified sound, so be sure to check before you book. I am based in Sydney's Inner West which is only 20 minutes from the city and close to all motorways & freeways. I am available for ceremonies all over the Sydney area including Camden, Campbelltown, Northern Beaches, Royal National Park and South Coast.

Can we change the date of the wedding? Yes, but I require at least 14 days notice. For wedding option 3 "Quickie Package", a minimum of 3 days notice prior to the wedding date is required. Please be aware that a $50 surcharge may apply if your wedding is postponed more than twice. I have reserved that date for you and generally only take one booking per day,

How do I change my name? if you were married in Australia a formal Change of Name is not required if you wish to take your spouse's name. A Standard Marriage Certificate is usually sufficient evidence to have personal documentation, such as your driver's licence and passport, changed to your married surname. Either spouse can change his/her name but if you want to use both names hyphenated e.g. Smith-Brown, you are required to lodge a 'Change of Adult Name' application with BDM. More information on this is given to you in your paperwork from me.
 

Can overseas couples get married in Australia? Yes, anyone can be married in Australia providing all the legal requirements are met. Couples from interstate can also be married in NSW. The Notice of Intended Marriage must be received by me no less than one calendar month and one day prior to the wedding. The details can be arranged via email, telephone or fax. Your plans can be finalised when you arrive in the country/state. Bookings will only be accepted with a booking fee of A$200. I accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bank Draft or Direct Deposit. (a 3% surcharge is applicable on all credit cards & bank transfer fees of $20 from overseas couples)

The steps are:

• Complete a Notice of Intended Marriage - I can email this to you or it can be obtained from any Australian Embassy world wide or on-line from the Attorney General's website. www.ag.gov.au/celebrants

• Overseas couples - have your signatures witnessed by an Australian Consular Officer, an Australian Diplomatic Officer or Notary Public. (The witness must also sight your your relevant documents - e.g. birth certificate, divorce papers, death certificate). If a party signs the notice in Australia - an Authorised Celebrant, a Commissioner for Declarations under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, a Justice of the Peace, a Barrister or Solicitor, a legally qualified Medical Practitioner or a member of the Australian Federal Police or police force of a state or territory.

• Email me a copy of the NOIM with copies of your supporting documents.

• Send the originals by registered mail or bring with you. (I must sight the original documents before the marriage can proceed).

• If you were born outside Australia, you must provide your birth certificate or overseas passport.

• If you were born in Australia you must provide your birth certificate.

• If either of you have been previously married, you need to provide the original or certified copy of your Divorce Certificate/Annulment/Death Certificate of former spouse.

• You must both be over the age of eighteen.

Will you give us a letter for our visa application? If your fiancé wishes to enter Australia under the prospective marriage (fiancé) plan or is already in Australia, I will supply a suitable letter for the DFAT/Australian Consulate.  Only one person needs to come to the initial interview to complete the legal forms. For couples who are overseas prior to the wedding, all the arrangements can be completed via telephone, email or by post. There is no extra fee for this service as it is covered in the booking fee. 

How do we have our marriage registered in our country? British Commonwealth Residents require a registered copy of the marriage certificate. I will register your marriage on-line on the same day as your wedding. You can apply for the copy from  the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages at their Chippendale or Parramatta offices -Telephone: 1300 655 236. The office hours are 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday. I can order the certificate for you directly after your wedding or provide you with an application form. The fee is A$46 or if required urgently A$68. If you don't have time to apply for a registered copy of your marriage certificate while you are in Australia, you can have your marriage documents deposited with the General Register Office. Contact them on www.fco.gov.uk

Residents from other countries will also require a registered copy of the marriage certificate and may require an Apostille Stamp or authentication certificate to be able to register the marriage in your country of residence. America, Britain and New Zealand generally do not require an Apostille Stamp but it is advisable to check what documentation you require from your local registry office in your home country or your consulate in Australia before you leave. The Apostille Stamp can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Sydney. The address is Level 7, 26 Lee Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Telephone: (02) 9207 6904, or follow the link www.dfat.gov.au/sydney  This office is only open from 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday and it will take three working days for your document to be authenticated. If you provide them with a stamped self-addressed envelope they will post the certificate to you.

"There is only one happiness in life ~ To love and be loved" ~ George Sand ~

© Copyrigjht 2011 Marlaine Nicholson-Smith