IT'S IN THE FINE PRINT

IT'S IN THE FINE PRINT
The first and most important step after engaging your celebrant (me) is the completion of a Notice of Intent to Marry, or NOIM as we call it in the biz (sounds like gnome, or nom, or noym..moving on!).  
 
WHAT/ WHY / WHEN / WHERE AND HOW
 
What’s a NOIM? This document is issued by the Commonwealth of Australia and is part of the legal process in ensuring your marriage is legit! Its purpose is to capture all the information that a celebrant needs to complete your marriage certificate and is used by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (BDM) to officially register your marriage.
 
The NOIM is valid for 18 months and be can be lodged with your celebrant as early as 18 months prior to the date or your ceremony and no less than one full month before.  I prefer to receive the original well in advance of the ceremony date.  It’s a legal and private document so I recommend sending by registered mail.  
 
The information required is fairly straight forward, but there are a few areas where people come unstuck.  Numbered 1-20, there is a list of instructions on the left side of the page, but having received hundreds of these, there are a few common errors that regularly occur.  Hopefully this will make it a bit clearer for you when it’s your turn!
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• CONJUGAL STATUS – that’s a weird way of asking whether you’re single, divorced or otherwise.  If you’ve never been married, the correct wording is NEVER VALIDLY MARRIED.  The Registry is pretty piccy about details, so be sure to use that phrase if this is your first time.

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• PLACE OF BIRTH – sometimes I get a whole list of information in response to this.  Keep it simple, whatever it says on your Passport for example, or Birth Certificate is all you need i.e. Subiaco, Western Australia.

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• TOTAL PERIOD OF RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA – only complete this section if you were born in another country.  Otherwise, leave it blank.

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• MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME IN FULL – If you’re not sure what a maiden name is, it’s the surname you were born with, before marriage.  Please insert your mums full name, not just the surname i.e. Mary Elizabeth SMITH.

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• FATHER/MOTHER COUNTRY OF BIRTH – Only insert the country name i.e. Australia.  A note for international clients.  The registry no longer accepts the United Kingdom as place of birth.  You need to be specific i.e. England, Scotland, Wales etc. ITEMS 15-20 relate to previous marriages. Unless this applies to you, leave it blank.

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• SIGNATURES – don’t sign your NOIM until it’s been checked by your Celebrant (me again) and you’re sitting in front of an approved witness.  The list of eligible witnesses is on Page 4 of the NOIM.   

 
I hope you’ll find this information useful.  If you have ny questions, please feel welcome to contact me via my website.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Hilary Van Eldik

Exmouth Ningaloo Weddings - hilaryvaneldik.com
Image | Courtesy Blue Media Weddings