I married in 1994 in front of the celebrant and found out in year 2014 that my marriage certificate
Wasn’t registered until year 2014 so Am I legally married between year 1994 and 2014?
Question Asked: 29/04/2025
Wedding Date: 9/08/2018
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It is my understanding that from the moment your ceremony concluded and provided that all legal aspects of that ceremony were executed on the day (Monitum announced, Legal vows verbalised before at least 2 witnesses over 18 years of age and Official Certficate signed by parties to the marriage and their witnesses) then from that moment you are "legally married ."
However your wedding wasn't registered' . Authorised marriage celebrants are required to submit official paperwork to BDM within 2 weeks of the ceremony.
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Yes. You were legally married in 1994.
Under the Marriage Act, you are legally married the moment you exchange vows.
The fact that the processing of paperwork occurred in 2014, tells us that the marriage ceremony that was conducted in 1994, was in compliance with the law.
Your celebrant was required by law to register your marriage within two weeks and the fact that was not done is irrelevant to the legality of your marriage but could result in the Celebrant being disciplined or having authority removed.
Back in 1994, papers were mailed to the BDM for registration but sometimes they might be lost in the mail, or left on someone's desk. Even with electronic lodgement, there can be a data error. I have even been told about a minister moving to a new parish where he discovered a drawer full of marriage documents that had not been submitted to the BDM and so a drawer full of legal marriages but none registered until the new minister posted them in.
All irrelevant to the legality of your marriage in 1994.