Interstate and Overseas Couples
I have married many couples from interstate and overseas. Just because you are not in Sydney doesn’t mean that my service diminishes or that you are missing out from the personal service that I would be giving to my Sydney based brides and grooms.
The key is to have open and constant communication between you and me as I guide you through the steps. With today’s technology; I am easily accessible via email, phone, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, What’sApp and skype.
When you eventually arrive into Sydney, we can arrange to meet to finalise all the legal documentation and confirm the finer details of your wedding day.
Lodgement of your Notice
Managing the legal documentation may take a few extra steps but this is nothing to stress over and when we begin working together on your ceremony, this will be just as stress free.
When your signatures have been witnessed as required on your Notice, couples then needs to fax or scan and email their signed Notice to me. The date that I receive your scanned Notice is the start date of you giving notice. Then post your original Notice to me after you have sent through a copy as I am required to sight your original Notice before your marriage is solemnised.
Sighting your original documents
When you fax or scan your signed and witnessed Notice to me, please also scan and email me through your documentations:
- An official birth certificate, or an official extract of an entry in an official register showing your date and place of birth, OR a valid Australian or foreign passport
- Identity – passport or a photo ID document like a driver’s licence, a proof of age/photo card
Also based on your current marital status, I need to sight the following from you:
- If divorced - Evidence of Divorce – Certificate of Divorce/ Divorce Order or Decree Absolute.
- If widowed - Original Death Certificate of your spouse
- If previously married but marriage is annulled - Evidence of Annulment – Certificate of Annulment / Decree of Nullity (if applicable)
Please remember, whilst you have provided me scanned copies of all your documents, I still need to sight the originals. There are two ways I can do this
1. I sight all your original documents at our rehearsal appointment before your wedding day. You will need to bring these documents to our appointment., OR
2. I can sight your original documents as you hold them up to the camera via a video conference call. This method is now allowed to satisfy this part of the legalities so long as I have your scanned copies in front of me.
Overseas couples - After Your Marriage
Depending on which country you are from, some countries will require you to register your Australian Marriage when you return to your country of residence. This is because some counties will not accept your official Australian Marriage Certificate without it having either an ‘Apostille Stamp’ or an ‘Authentication Stamp’.
Therefore it is advisable for all overseas couples to investigate whether your country requires either an Apostille Stamp or an Authentication Stamp before coming to Australia to marry.
Whichever stamp is required on your Australian marriage certificate will depend on whether your country of residence belongs to the Hague Convention. This is a legal process and to obtain either Stamp the process is:
- They are issued by the Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs and there is an office in every Australian capital city including Sydney.
- After you have obtained your Australian Marriage Certificate, it will usually take at least 2-3 working days to organise the Stamp, so please be aware that you may need to attend to this before your return home. More importantly to allow for these extra working days.
Note: I can assist you to get your Australian Marriage Certificate, after your marriage has been solemnised.
Attached is an information sheet about this legal requirement and for further information on Apostille Stamp or Authentication Stamp, please visit the following site Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
