Married by Micheal

The thought of organising a wedding from overseas is daunting to most couples however the process is relatively easy. All couples must complete the Notice of Intended Marriage within the required time frames; the form can be downloaded from the Attorney-General’s website, or I will send you a link that you can fill in the information online. It is simply a matter of completing the form and having the signatures of both parties witnessed before a Notary Public or other authorised person outlined on the back of the NOIM.

The original form along with certified photocopies of relevant documents such as birth/death/divorce certificates are then mailed to me. The original of these documents must be presented to me upon arrival in Australia.

Both parties must produce copies of their birth certificates. Depending on your country of birth, it may be necessary to have your original birth certificate translated into English by a qualified translator. If you are unable to locate your birth certificate and you were born overseas, you are able to produce your passport as proof of birth.  If you are born in Australia or New Zealand, you must produce your birth certificate.

In short Yes! If you wish to marry in a  park or public place, ensure that your celebrant carries public liability insurance which is a pre-requisite of all Councils for celebrants conducting ceremonies in their venues. Also consider an alternate venue in the case of unforeseen weather conditions.

Now all the excitement of your wedding is over, you will probably have some time now to change your name to your married name.

Your celebrant would have given you a ceremonial certificate on your wedding day, however, this can’t be used for changing your name.

You can apply for your official certificate about two to three weeks after your wedding, from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) in the state that you were married in.  The certificate will then take up to four weeks to be mailed to you.  The cost of the certificate is different in each state and you will find all that information on their website.  Once you receive your Official Marriage Certificate from RBDM you will be able to start the process of changing your name.  

You might like to retain your existing family name; or adopt your spouse’s family name; or adopt a combination of your family name and your spouse’s family name with or without hyphens.

Steps to changing your name

1. Decide on what your new name will be
2. Go to RBDM website and fill in the online form and pay the fee
3. Post in your JP certified copies of your ID or go into the RBDM in person with your original copies of your ID.
4. Receive your certificate
5. It’s a good idea to get four or five copies of the certificate certified by a JP.
6. Practice your new signature 
7. Make a list of all the places you will need to change your name.  Go through your filing cabinet and look in your wallet/purse and note down all the cards, licences etc that you have.  Some of the institutions may need to see your original marriage certificate, others will be happy with a certified copy and you may find some are happy with changing your name online. 
8. As a quick guide, start with changing your drivers’ licence or proof of age card first, then update your passport medicare care card and bank cards.  (For example, in Queensland, to update your driver’s licence you will need to print out and complete an application form and then visit a Queensland Transport service centre.  Here are further details on what you are required to do and a link to the application form.
9. Start using your new name!

If you have any questions about this or need some advice about changing your name, feel free to get in touch.

Congrats and enjoy married life!

The first step in getting married is to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage form with your celebrant. The form can be lodged up to 18 months prior to the wedding, and no later than one month  before the date of the marriage.

What does giving the notice ‘not later than one month before the date of the marriage’ mean? 
The term ‘month’ is defined in section 2G of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 as follows:

(1)  In any Act, month means a period: 
(a)  starting at the start of any day of one of the calendar months; and 
(b)  ending: 
 (i)  immediately before the start of the corresponding day of the next
calendar month; or 
(ii)  if there is no such day—at the end of the next calendar month. 
Example 1: A month - starting on 15 December in a year ends immediately before 15 January in the next year. 
Example 2: A month - starting on 31 August in a year ends at the end of September in that year (because September is the calendar month coming after August and does not have 31 days).

I am pleased to offer various packages for my comprehensive service.  Value is a key part of my business and my prices reflect the quality and time that goes into creating a unique and personal service whilst remaining exceptional value for money.  Should you require further detail of all inclusions or have special requests please contact me to discuss. I have many tailored options for individual ceremonies to match your needs and expectations.

The Paperwork Only Wedding is perfect for those that want the simplest option without a ceremony. All legalities fulfilled at my office with all marriage paperwork provided.  

The Short and Sweet Marriage Ceremony includes travel anywhere in the CBD.  Includes personalised template ceremony and is designed for couples looking for a shorter ceremony that's personal and to the point.

The Inclusive Marriage Ceremony is for those who want a very personalised ceremony.  I work closely with you both to understand your relationship, your vision for your wedding, your story and your friends and family.  I offer support with your vows and any readings, inclusive of a personalised ceremony to make it feel very special, unique and fun.