Maria Nizeti
Marriage Celebrant
More Information on getting married.
The Process
At our first meeting....
We will fill in a document called Notice of Intended Marriage . This document is sometimes called NOIM and it must be lodged with a with me at least one month prior to your intended wedding date. This notice remains valid for eighteen months.
What to bring at our first meeting:
- You will both need documentation showing proof of your date and place of birth. The only forms of acceptable identification for this purpose are:
an original birth certificate (or extract), or a passport.
The passport does not have to be current – an expired passport will still show your date and place of birth .However, a cancelled passport cannot be used, as this could indicate some sort of identity fraud.
If you don't have a passport and you have produced a birth certificate as proof of place and date of birth, you will also need to bring photo ID example: your drivers licence.
- If you have been married before you will need to bring documents relating to any previous marriage, such as: divorce or nullity (also known as annulment) papers, or death certificate of the previous spouse.
At out second meeting....
I will ask you to fill in a statutory declaration , this is a legal document stating that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.
On you wedding day....
- I will ask you and your two witnesses to sign certificates that I will prepare for you so your marriage can be register with the NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Partner Visa Assistance
At our first meeting....
We will fill in a document called Notice of Intended Marriage . This document is sometimes called NOIM and it must be lodged with a with me at least one month prior to your intended wedding date. This notice remains valid for eighteen months.
What to bring at our first meeting:
- You will both need documentation showing proof of your date and place of birth. The only forms of acceptable identification for this purpose are:
an original birth certificate (or extract), or a passport.
The passport does not have to be current – an expired passport will still show your date and place of birth .However, a cancelled passport cannot be used, as this could indicate some sort of identity fraud.
If you don't have a passport and you have produced a birth certificate as proof of place and date of birth, you will also need to bring photo ID example: your drivers licence.
- If you have been married before you will need to bring documents relating to any previous marriage, such as: divorce or nullity (also known as annulment) papers, or death certificate of the previous spouse.
At out second meeting....
I will ask you to fill in a statutory declaration , this is a legal document stating that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.
On you wedding day....
- I will ask you and your two witnesses to sign certificates that I will prepare for you so your marriage can be register with the NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Legal Matters for Overseas Couples
I can assist couples who are currently living together overseas and are in a committed relationship, who aren’t currently married, and wish to migrate to Australia.
You might be applying for a ‘Partner Visa’ or Fiancé Visa however as part of the requirements for a Partner Visa or a Fiance Visa, you will need to prove you intend to be married.
As part of your application you will need to provide a letter which I can write for you explaining that you have completed a ‘Notice Of Intended Marriage’ form, it has been lodged with the department of Births, Deaths & Marriages and a date has been set.
If you are applying for a Partner Visa you will require this letter! It is stated on the immigration page and it’s a great tip to have it early to lodge with your paperwork.
I can help you with this process !!!
The Visa Assistance Package includes the following ...
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* First Meeting.
* Complete the necessary Notice of Intended Marriage.
* I will provide your certified Evidence of Notice letter within 48 hours.
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What you will need to bring to our first meeting.
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* Bring your relevant Identification (Passports or birth certificates + driver license).
* Bring any relevant divorce/death certificates.
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For more information send me a message to call me on 0412 232 480
Changing Your Name After Marriage
Under Australian Common Law, you may refer to yourself (and ask others to refer to you) by your married name whenever you wish. However, if you want to change your name on documents such as a driver’s licence, passport or bank account, each organisation that you are dealing with will request evidence of your marriage in order to make this change on any official documents.
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In most cases, organisations will want to sight a copy of the Standard Marriage Certificate issued by the Registry to show the link between the party’s previous name and married name. Once this has been sighted then they will update the party/party’s names on relevant documents.
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To order a marriage certificate click on the link...https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/marriages/marriage-certificates
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If you have ordered a Commemorative (decorative) certificate from the Registry, it is unlikely that this will be accepted for the purpose of updating a name to a married name.
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If a couple were married in Australia, they have the following options after marriage:
1) They can retain their existing family name
2) They can adopt their spouse’s family name (this applies to both parties, i.e. either party can take their spouse’s Family Name)
3) They can add their spouse’s name to their own name, either with or without hyphens and either by adding the name before or after their existing family name.
Unlike options one and two, the third option generally requires an official change of name. If this is the case, an application will need to be completed for this to be actioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I change the name on my driver's licence with the Marriage Certificate the celebrant gives me on my wedding day?
A. No, you will need to obtain your full Marriage certificate from the Register Office. This can take several weeks depending on workload.
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Q. I’ve been married 3 times, will I need all of my divorce papers?
A. No, you will only need your most recent divorce papers.
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Q. We have eloped and married in a registry office, but would now like to have a wedding service. Is this legal?
A. Your registry office wedding is your official service and you cannot have a second wedding service. The second ceremony will need to be conducted as a renewal of vows.
Q. We met and married overseas, but would like to have a service with our family and friends present. Can we have an Australian wedding service?
A. People who are legally married to each other cannot go through a second form of ceremony to each other. Any Australian service would need to be conducted as a renewal of vows.
Q. Can I include my pet as part of the ceremony?
A. All ceremonies can be tailor made to suit your requirements. If you would like your pet included in the ceremony, and it is reasonable to do so, it can be arranged. It should be noted however that pets cannot act in any ‘official’ capacity, such as witness.
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Q. How old does my witness need to be ?
18 years and over.
Q. I am in a same-sex relationship. Can I legally marry my partner?
A. Yes, you can and I would be honoured to do your wedding.
Q. Can I fill out my Notice of Intended to Marriage before my divorce is processed?
A. Yes, but you can’t be married until the celebrant has your final divorce papers.
