What documents do we need to sign/lodge in order to get married

Following on from my post yesterday, apart from filling out and lodging a NOTICE OF INTENDED MARRIAGE ( NOIM ) with your celebrant one month prior to your marriage date, there is one more document that needs to be signed PRIOR to your wedding taking place.

This document is called a DECLARATION OF NO LEGAL IMPEDIMENT. This is to be signed as close to the wedding date as possible. This document is signed in front of your celebrant, and you are declaring everything that you have stated to your celebrant up to that point is true and correct.

For instance, you are declaring that you are not in a prohibited relationship, you are over the age of 18, you are not married to another person, and basically that there is no reason that the marriage should not go ahead.

On the day of your wedding, you will sign three documents along with your two witnesses who are over the age of 18, and your celebrant.

This includes a document called " Official certificate to marriage" There are two of these to sign. One is loose leaf, and in my case, the other is in a red register. Some celebrants have two loose leaf ones - and that is fine.

The other document you sign is your marriage certificate - (this is a legal document and cannot be replaced under any circumstances) .

After your ceremony, I register your marriage online and send through electronically the following documents:-

1. Notice of Intended Marriage

2. Declaration of No Legal Impediment

3. Official certificate to marriage

This is what Births, deaths and marriages need in order to register your marriage.

I can then apply for your certificate from NSW Births Deaths and Marriages on your behalf. The current cost as at the date of this blog is $ 60.00. If a party to the marriage is going to make changes to their surname, then this document will be required to do so as it contains much more identification and information that the marriage certificate that you sign on the day with your witnesses and celebrant.

******Please note that the NOIM has validity of 18 months, so can be filled out way before the one month required.******