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Marriage resources

Wild Flowers

Want to know more about marriage?

Here is a list of some resources to feel best informed for your journey going forward into marriage and beyond.  

Not what your looking for? 

Check out the Attorney General Department website for more information.

https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/marriage

Marriage education services

Below is a legally required education document I am to provide you before conducting a marriage ceremony to help you best prepare and support you before and after marriage.

  • Happily, ever before and after - I am legally advised to provide both parties of the marriage that has been approved by the Attorney-General in the form of a brochure entitled Happily Ever Before and After and indicates the availability of marriage education and counselling and other important legal matters concerning marriage.

 

Click here to view.

 

One copy of the brochure will be given to each party. The brochure is also available on the department’s website in translated versions.

Counseling services available 

Here is a small sample of education and counselling services available in the South eastern suburbs that you may use prior and post marriage:

 

  • Relationships Matters Melbourne Celebrants

Level 4, 255 Bourke Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Phone: 1300 543 396  Fax: 03 9923 6861
Web: www.relationshipmatters.com.au

 

  • Relationships Australia

1 Clarke Street
Sunshine, VIC 3020
Phone: (03) 9313 0444
Email: enquiries@sunshinefrc.org.au
Web: www.relationshipsvictoria.com.au​

  • Human Need

Head Office: Level 1, 609 Nicholson Street
(Corner of Reid / Richardson Street)
North Carlton Vic 3054
Phone: 03 98177723
Web: www.humaneed.com.au

 

 

  • Life Supports

Head office: 1/333 Whitehorse Rd

Balwyn VIC 3103

Phone: 1300 735 030

Web: https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au

Code of Practice

Below is the legal wording and code of practice a celebrant must adhere to in the court of law when performing a marriage. The Code of Practice for Marriage Celebrants is contained in Schedule 2 of the Marriage Regulations 2017. 

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APPLICATION OF THIS CODE OF PRACTICE

This Code of Practice applies to marriage celebrants.Note 1: A marriage celebrant is a person registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961: see subsection 5(1) of that Act.Note 2: Under paragraph 39I(1)(b) of that Act, if the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants is satisfied that a marriage celebrant has not complied with an obligation under section 39G of that Act, including this Code of Practice, the Registrar may take disciplinary measures against the marriage celebrant. 

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HIGH STANDARD OF SERVICE

A marriage celebrant must maintain a high standard of service in his or her professional conduct and practice.This includes (without limitation) ensuring the following:(a) appropriate personal presentation for marriage ceremonies.(b) punctuality for marriage ceremonies.(c) accuracy in preparation of documents and in the conduct of marriage ceremonies. 

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RECOGNITION OF SIGNIFICANCE OF MARRIAGE

A marriage celebrant must recognise the social, cultural and legal significance of marriage and the marriage ceremony in the Australian community, and the importance of strong and respectful family relationships. 

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COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND OTHER LAWS

A marriage celebrant must:(a) comply with the requirements of the Marriage Act 1961 and the Marriage Regulations 2017 which apply to the marriage celebrant; and(b) observe the laws of the Commonwealth and of any State or Territory in which the marriage celebrant solemnises marriages; and(c) avoid unlawful discrimination in the provision of marriage celebrancy services. 23 Certificate IV in Celebrancy CHC41015 Student Manual Revised Sept 2021 V1.2 

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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIAGE CEREMONIES

A marriage celebrant must respect the importance of the marriage ceremony to the parties and the other persons organising the ceremony.This includes (without limitation) the following:(a) giving the parties information and guidance to enable them to choose or compose a marriage ceremony, including information to assist the parties to decide whether a marriage ceremony rehearsal is needed or appropriate.(b) respecting the privacy and confidentiality of the parties, including by:(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (c) arranging for appropriate facilities to interview parties; and dealing appropriately with personal documents and personal information; and maintaining appropriate facilities for the secure storage of records; and ensuring the return of all personal documents belonging to the parties as soon as practicable (unless it is necessary to keep the documents for the ceremony); giving the parties information about how to notify the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department of any concerns or complaints they may have regarding the marriage services provided by the marriage celebrant. 

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS SERVICES

A marriage celebrant must:(a) maintain an up-to-date knowledge about appropriate family relationships services in the community; and(b) inform the parties to the marriage about the range of information and services available to them to enhance, and sustain them throughout, their relationship.

 

How to make a complaint

If you believe the celebrant is in breach of their legal duty as a registered celebrant, you can make a formal complaint to the Attorney generals department. 

Before making a formal complaint, the person making the complaint (the Appellant) should consider whether the complaint could be settled directly with the celebrant.

 

The Appellant could be:

  • A party to a marriage or member of the public, or

  • Registries of births, deaths and marriages or other government departments (celebrant).

 

What can be considered as a valid complaint?

  • A complaint can be made if a marriage celebrant has broken the rules in the:

  • Marriage Act 1961,

  • Marriage Regulations 2017, or

  • Code of Practice for marriage celebrants To Note: The Attorney-General’s Department cannot make a celebrant refund money. If the complaint is about money, the Appellant should get advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

 

Some examples of valid complaints include:

  • the marriage celebrant was unprofessional,

  • they did not respect your privacy,

  • they made mistakes on the paperwork,

  • they did not submit documents to the registry of births, deaths and marriages on time,

  • they did not make sure the people getting married could give, or had given, real consent to the marriage. 26 Certificate IV in Celebrant CHC41015 Student Manual Revised Sept 2021 V1.2

 

How complaints are handled by the Attorney-General’s Department

  • All complaints must be made within three months of ‘first becoming aware of the problem’ and must be made using the official complaint form obtained from the Attorney-General’s website. 

  • Complaints may be made anonymously; however, the Attorney-General’s Department may not be able to investigate the complaint if more information is required.

  • Upon receipt of the complaint, the Attorney-General’s Department will write to the Appellant confirming they have received the complaint.

 

They will then:

Review the complaint The Attorney-General’s Department may need to ask for more information. Once all the information has been received, they will write to the Appellant, informing them if they have decided to:

  • not deal with the complaint because it lacks merit,

  • refer the complaint to a more appropriate department,

  • investigate the complaint more.

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They may not deal with the complaint if:

  • it was not made on the approved form,

  • it is not about the solemnisation of marriage by a marriage celebrant,

  • it is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived, lacking in substance or is not in good faith,

  • the complainant does not have sufficient interest,

  • the complaint is not made within 3 months,

  • the substance of the complaint has been previously heard,

  • the complaint is the subject of other processes,

  • the complaint would more appropriately be dealt with by another body. 27 Certificate IV in Celebrancy CHC41015 Student Manual Revised Sept 2021 V1.2

 

 Investigate The Attorney-General’s Department will send a copy of the complaint to the marriage celebrant and ask them to respond.

It will not contain the contact details of the Appellant.

After the response has been received from the celebrant, the Attorney General’s Department will decide if they should take further action.

 

Respond The Attorney-General’s Department will tell the marriage celebrant what they have decided and why.

Sometimes they may:

  • give the celebrant a warning,

  • require the celebrant to do more training,

  • suspend the celebrant’s registration,

  • deregister the celebrant.

 

The Attorney-General’s Department will generally only take disciplinary action against the celebrant if there has been a serious or ongoing breach of the Marriage Act 1961 or Marriage Regulations 2017.

 

When it is finalized, The Attorney-General’s Department will tell the Appellant the outcome of the complaint.

 

Contact details:

Marriage Law and Celebrants Section1800 550 343

Outside Australia: +61 2 6141 3111

marriagecelebrantssection@ag.gov.au

3-5 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600

 

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