Happily ever before & after

Tuesday 31st May 2022

Ryan Martin

Ryan Martin head shot

Happily ever before & after..?

Why is my marriage celebrant giving me this?

The happily ever before & after document is an information booklet outlining the obligations and consequences of marriage and stating the availability of marriage education and counselling. In Australian, it is mandatory that Marriage Celebrants provide each party with a copy of the "Happily ever before & after document". It must be given to couples who have lodged a notice of intended marriage form with an approved marriage celebrant.

https://www.ag.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/happily-ever-before-and-after.pdf


A screenshot from the Happily ever after brochure

One thing the brochure does provide to couples is the legal steps involved in getting married in Australia

  1. Complete a Notice of Intended Marriage Form at least one month before the wedding

  2. Both parties must provide evidence of their date and place of birth (birth certificate), identity (photographic identification eg. drivers license) and evidence of how any previous marriages have ended.

  3. Both parties must sign the DONLI (Declaration of No Legal Impediment) declaring that you meet all the legal requirements in Australia.

  4. The celebrant will ask you to sign up to three marriage certificates

  5. Your celebrant will register your marriage with the BDM of the state in which the marriage took place.

I hope this article has given you some information about the happily ever before and after document.

If you want to check out some more of my stuff head to www.ryanmartin.com.au