0481 566 766
Ceremonies by Sacha - Civil Celebrant
FAQ's
Let's answer some of your questions
Where do I start with the paperwork?
As a civil celebrant practicing in Queensland and New South Wales, I can help you with all the paperwork.
How do I register our date?
The first thing to do once you have a date is register it by completing a Notice of Intended Marriage or NOIM.
The form can either be completed with your celebrant or by downloading the forms from the Attorney General’s Department Website and having it witnessed by an authorised witness.
If you are in Australia and completing the forms yourself, you can have your NOIM witnessed by one of the following authorised witnesses:
an authorised Marriage Celebrant
a justice of the peace
a Commissioner for Declarations under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959
a barrister or solicitor
a legally qualified medical practitioner
a member of the Australian Federal Police or the police force of a Sate or Territory.
If you're overseas and unable to be in Australia before the NOIM is due, you will need one of the following authorities to witness:
an Australian Diplomatic Officer
an Australian Consular Officer
a Notary public
an employee of the Commonwealth authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955
an employee of the Australian Trade Commission authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955.
Please note, if you are filling the forms without your celebrant, it is best to fill it out BLOCK letters using BLACK pen or by using the dynamic PDF version to ensure everything is legible.
2. How long do we have to register our ceremony date?
To lodge or register your ceremony date it is simply providing your celebrant with your complete NOIM no later than one month and no earlier than 18 months prior to your ceremony date.
The NOIM must be completed, signed and witnessed. The easiest way to achieve this is to complete the NOIM with your celebrant.
TIP: If you aren't both available to complete the NOIM together, for example if you are away overseas and can not get a witness for the signature before you need to lodge the form, the NOIM can be completed and lodged by your partner as long as you provide the completed form to your celebrant at least one month prior to the ceremony date. Your celebrant will finalise the missing details of the NOIM with you prior to the ceremony, including checking your identification.
3. What legal documents do we need to show you (or our celebrant)?
Identification You Need to Present to Your Celebrant or Witness:
Your original birth certificate OR your original current or expired (but not cancelled) passport
Your current drivers license
And if you’ve been married before, you will need to show:
Your original divorce paper from the court
OR a death certificate if you are a widow or widower
4. How do we 'lodge' our NOIM?
Simple, the lodgement of your NOIM is when you send the completed forms to your celebrant. If you choose to work with me, we can do this piece of paperwork together at our first official meeting so all you need to organise is your pieces of identification.
TIP: The NOIM can be completed and witnessed online by your celebrant as long as you are both joining the video conference from a location within Australia.
5. What else do we need to sign?
Before you walk down the aisle you will need to sign a Declaration of No Legal Impediment. This is usually done the day before or just before the ceremony depending on what is most convenient for you both. It can be together or separately.
If you decide to have me as your celebrant we will do this at the rehearsal or before the ceremony starts.
The final pieces of paperwork you will sign are during the ceremony. There are two Legal Certificates of Marriage, and the commemorative Marriage Certificate. Your celebrant will bring these on the day.
You will do the signing of these Certificates at the end of the ceremony, with your two nominated witnesses. This is usually a good photo opportunity for your guests and photographer.
Note, your witnesses can be anyone, but they must be over 18 years of age. Also, it is good to be aware that you can't use the commemorative marriage certificate for name changes, you need to apply for an official marriage certificate via Birth, Deaths and Marriages - see below for more information.
TIP: If signing the paperwork during the ceremony doesn't fit the day's schedule the witnessed signing can be done later in the day. Speak to your celebrant about what is required to arrange to sign your marriage documentation after the ceremony, for example before the reception or .
6. What happens next?
If I am your celebrant, once we have finished your ceremony and the legal paperwork is signed, I’ll register your marriage through the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). This is all done electronically by me - nothing for you to worry about and that is when it is official - you’re 100% MARRIED!
Note, if you are thinking of changing your name, or if you need proof of marriage for visa, immigration and financial purposes – you’ll need to apply for your Official Marriage Certificate marriage. You can apply for it online, via post or in person through the Registry of BDM.