Legal requirements for weddings
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Legal requirements
Weddings: What you need to know before you get married

Under Section 41 of the Marriage Act the marriage must be performed by, or in the presence of, a celebrant or a minister of religion who has been authorised by the Attorney-General’s Department.

Under
Section 44 the ceremony must be attended by two witnesses over the age of 18 years, who are known to the bride and groom.

Section 112 states that an interpreter must be present to translate the ceremony if either of the couple being married does not understand English. This interpreter must be a person other than a party to the marriage and must provide a statutory declaration confirming their ability to converse in the language in respect of which he or she is acting as interpreter.

I need to receive a completed
Notice of Intended Marriage from you at least one month and one day prior to your wedding. Under unusual circumstances this period can be shortened – ask me about it if this is the case. Once your notification has been received you have 18 months to proceed with the ceremony before another notification is required.

You can download the
Notice of Intended Marriage by clicking here.
(This is for your information only – I can provide the form when we see each other) Please do not sign or date it before our first meeting as I need to witness your signatures.

At least one of you must be over 18 - under
Section 12 of the Marriage Act, if one of you is over 16 but under 18 you need a special court order before a marriage can proceed.

If either of you has been married before, under
Section 23B of the Marriage Act a divorce absolute decree or a death certificate must be produced as evidence that you are no longer married.

For further information on government legislation relating to marriage, go to:
http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/MarriageGetting_Married

For an obligation-free meeting ring me on 0414 450 460 or email me at philip@sydneycelebrant.net