Geelong Weddings

Legal and Statutory Information

Marriage Act 1961
4.29. Under the Marriage Act 1961,

"Marriages may be celebrated by a minister of religion registered as an authorised celebrant, by a State Registrar, or by other persons authorised by the Attorney-General.

Notice of the intended marriage must be given to the celebrant at least one month but not more than six months before the marriage.

A celebrant is required to transmit within 14 days an official certificate of the marriage for registration to a district registrar in the State in which the marriage took place.

The 1961 Act also introduced uniform minimum ages at marriage of 18 for males and 16 for females. Marriages of minors (for males aged 16 or 17 and for females aged 14 or 15) were allowed only if a judge or magistrate issued an order permitting the marriage. Further amendments to the Marriage Act in 1991 brought the minimum ages for females into line with those for males. They designated the minimum age at which persons are legally able to marry to be 18 years. Persons aged 16 and 17 years may marry with parental or guardian consent and an order from a judge or magistrate. Any two persons under the age of 18 years may not marry each other."

 In you would like full details of the Marriage Atc 1961 Click Here

To be married in Australia you must be 18 years or over, and a Notice Of Intention To Marry must be filed at least one month and one working day prior to the wedding date. This notice can be downloaded here.

The documents and requirements for a marriage in Australia are:

• A Birth Certificate or official extract
• A valid passport if not an Australian citizen
• The original of your Notice Of Intention To Marry
• If divorced, your decree absolute.
• If widowed, your spouses death certificate & previous marriage certificate.
• Legal proof of any name changes by deed poll
• Two people to act as witnesses

If you are a visitor to Australia intending to marry here, there is a minimum of one day’s residency in Australia required prior to the ceremony. Overseas visitors can also obtain a Notice Of Intention To Marry from your nearest Australian Consulate.

Original copies of birth certificates, and passports for couples from overseas, are to be sighted by the celebrant on the day of the ceremony.