Age Requirements     Identification    Agreements

For a marriage there are legal requirements to be met.

Check with the person conducting your wedding service – celebrant or minister, or  a solicitor for full details. They are the best people to give you the correct information.

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.

Identification

Each person is required to provide an original birth certificate or an Extract of Birth certificate as proof of age and place of birth.

Agreements

Pre-Nuptial Agreements are becoming popular. It is a legally binding financial agreement made prior the marriage.

Please ensure you get legal representation if you are considering this.

Age Requirements

In short, the legal requirement is that you have to be 18 years of age or over.

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.

Generally

Australian laws change constantly. We make no warranty to the accuracies contained in this section. We recommend you seek further advice from a Civil Marriage Celebrant or from the Attorney-General's Department.

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