Legal requirement FAQ’s

Every ceremony needs 2 witnesses. Two adult witnesses are required on the day of your ceremony for witnessing and signing of the Marriage Register. Witnesses must be at least 18 years of age and may be family or friends, however, they must be able to speak and understand English.

Talk to your celebrant if you are eloping and need help finding witnesses.

Birth Certificate

The certificate must be shown in full and if born in Australia must be produced before the wedding. An extract is acceptable. If you were born overseas and don’t have a birth certificate, a current overseas passport will suffice

Passport

If a visitor to Australia and not an Australian citizen, the Celebrant will need to view your current passport.

Divorce

If you have been married before, proof of divorce needs to be shown. Again the original needs to be sighted by the Celebrant.

Death certificate

If widowed, the original death certificate needs to sighted by the Celebrant.

Change of name certificate

Legal proof of any name change to be obtained from Births, Deaths & Marriages. Original must be produced.

Official consent for persons under 18

Official consent to marry is required for any parties who are under 18 years of age.