There's paperwork, but not a mountain

Audrey Hepburn once remarked, “If I get married, I want to be very married.” Part of being ‘very married’ in Australia is to make sure you meet all the legal requirements. While your time with your chosen celebrant will be taken up with discussing your choice of symbols, readings and music, there will also be time devoted to completing the necessary forms.

The first of these is the Notice of Intended Marriage, commonly referred to as the NOIM. This form can be lodged up to 18 months before your wedding but must be lodged at least one month before. While reasonably straight forward, your celebrant will take you through this form and what is required.

The NOIM records the names and addresses of the happily couple as well as birthplace, parents’ names and conjugal status. Some of you might think you are single but when it comes to the NOIM that would be Never Validly Married. If you have been married before, the NOIM will record the details of this marriage and your current marital status (divorced, impending divorce or widowed). The NOIM also requires you to produce legal identity documents (e.g. drivers licence, passport).

You will also have to complete the Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage and lodge this with your celebrant at least once month before your wedding. The title of this document pretty much says it all but your celebrant will be there to help should there be an issue.

The celebrant will bring the marriage register to your wedding and will also prepare the Official Certificate of Marriage and the Marriage Certificate for signing and witnessing at the ceremony.

While usually not at the forefront of the couple’s minds when initially planning their wedding, the paperwork is an essential part of getting married and just one reason to seek an experienced celebrant.