For registered marriage celebrants
This is the official site of the Australian Marriage Celebrants Program. Anything you read elsewhere that is inconsistent with this site is not accurate.
The term ‘marriage celebrant’ is commonly used to describe all marriage celebrants who perform marriages.
The Marriage Act 1961 provides for three different categories of people who perform marriages:
(a) ministers of religion of recognised denominations authorised by State and Territory Registrars of Birth, Deaths and Marriages
(b) some State and Territory officers, and
(c) persons registered as marriage celebrants in accordance with Part IV Division 1 subdivision C of the Act.
The Marriage Celebrant Code of Practice
The Marriage Celebrant Code of Practice applies to all marriage celebrants registered by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department. The Code is applied to ensure marriage celebrants comply with a relevant set of rules. Please read the Code to understand the obligations placed upon marriage celebrants.
Form of marriage ceremony and participation in a ceremony
Ceremonies used by marriage celebrants conducting civil (non-religious) ceremonies may incorporate some material from religious sources at the request of the couple being married. The ceremony should enhance the dignity of the occasion, meet all legal requirements and accommodate the reasonable requests and expectations of the couple marrying. Celebrants are encouraged to involve couples to design a ceremony to meet their specific wishes. People not authorised as marriage celebrants may participate in aspects of a marriage ceremony, however, an authorised marriage celebrant must fulfil all legal requirements for solemnising the marriage.
Evidence of divorce needed before being married
As of 1 July 2002, the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court ceased issuing both a decree nisi of dissolution of marriage and a decree absolute. They now issue a document titled ‘Certificate of Divorce’, which contains the dates of the decree nisi and the decree absolute. This certificate is evidence of divorce for the purpose of solemnising a marriage (see subsection 42(10) of the Marriage Act 1961).
If you were divorced prior to 1 July 2002 you will need to show the celebrant a copy of the decree absolute.
Note: Photocopies of documents will not be accepted.
