Notice of Intended Marriage and Shortening of Time: What You Need to Know

Shortening of Time: planning a wedding can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience. Amidst all the preparations, it’s crucial to understand the legal requirements for getting married in Australia, especially if you’re on a tight timeline. This blog post will guide you through the process of lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) and explain how to shorten the notice period if necessary.

The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)

In Australia, couples must complete and lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month before their wedding date. This document not only serves as a formal declaration of your intention to marry but also provides essential details required by the Marriage Act.

Key Points:

• Lodging the NOIM: You must submit the NOIM with an authorised Marriage Celebrant at least one month prior to your wedding.
• Your authorised marriage celebrant will also need:. evidence of your date and place of birth (birth certificate or passport)
  . identity (driver’s licence/proof of age card or passport)
  . proof that a previous marriage has ended
  . to meet separately and in person with each party to a marriage.
• Sign the NOIM: The form must be signed in the presence of an authorized person, such as a celebrant or other authorised witness.

Shortening of Time

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and sometimes couples need to get married sooner than the mandatory one-month waiting period. The good news is that it is possible to shorten this time under certain special circumstances as outlined in the Marriage Act and Regulations .

Conditions for Shortening of Time:

To qualify for shortening the notice period, your situation must fall into one of the five categories specified by the regulations:

1. Employment-related or other travel commitments
2. Wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations
3. Medical reasons
4. Legal proceedings
5. Error in giving notice

Steps for Shortening of Time Notice Period in New South Wales:

1. To apply with the NSW Registry, the couple can email bdm-marriages-syd@customerservice.nsw.gov.au, with:
2. a letter from the couple asking for a shortening of time including:
   • full names of both parties to the marriage
   • the intended date of the ceremony
   • the reason why the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) was not lodged earlier or why the ceremony cannot be delayed
   • a signed and completed Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) lodged with an authorised celebrant
   • a written statement from the celebrant including their full name, phone number, email address, and registration number
   • evidence showing why the wedding needs to be held earlier (such as plane tickets, employment letters with commencement dates, receipts, letters from medical specialists). The evidence must be directly related to one of the 5 categories.
3.  The Registry aims to finalise requests within 2 business days. Your request may be rejected or delayed if you don’t supply sufficient evidence.

Conclusion

Navigating the legal requirements for getting married in Australia can be a bit daunting, especially if you need to get married quickly. By understanding the Notice of Intended Marriage and the process for shortening of time notice period, you can ensure your big day goes off without a hitch.

If you’re in need of personalized guidance, book a call with an experienced Marriage Celebrant. They’ll help you refine your plans and ensure you have all the necessary documents for a seamless experience.

Get started… Call today and take the first step toward your happily ever after.