Australia’s Peak Celebrant Body
CoCA thanks celebrants for the 81 responses below and others sent to us as a part of our industry wide survey.
CoCA presented this submission to the Marriage Law and Celebrant Section on 1st December 2014 as the result of your feedback: 2014 Marriage Forms CoCA Submission
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Thursday, 03 December 2015 09:07
I have found the forms very good, but there still needs to be considerable 'wriggling and jiggling’.
In the Declarations (free to marry), the space at the bottom for the couple’s signatures is very small; whereas, the space allotted to recording the details of an underage bride/groom is large. I have never yet had to put anything in this space, and it’s possible in this day and age that many other celebrants haven't either. Why so much room for a seldom-used section?
On the NOIM, could we have a bit more space in Conjugal Status? When a couple are waiting for a divorce, the space in this section is squeezy when you have to put ‘Married. Divorce order being sought. Divorce expected .................... (date)’.
Just a couple of ideas. Thanks,
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Tuesday, 03 March 2015 22:34
In Western Australia , the most stupidest of ID cards is the Proof of age card, whereby it does not have a registered nr. This could even be the same nr. as the applicants Birth nr. as issued upon a birth certificate.
without the need of creating another number.
Another issue is the presentation of a Passport as providing another document of ID... this document is another failure by the immigration department... as it does not allow the correct identification of country and state of origin....for example someone born in Perth..Could be from Tasmania, or Canada, or Scotland. ..? same as many other towns and cities in Australia, as they are duplicated in many other countries.
The only real document is a birth certificate...if this is unobtainable then a certificate of identity from that country and a Statutory Declaration must also be made...during the issue of the NOIM and other documents.
As a Justice of the Peace and Celebrant, I am also an Army Chaplain, and I am pedantic over correct use of documents and identification. It is frustrating to have to explain the correct procedures to my many clients however they visit me.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 20:16
As a relatively new celebrant I do not believe that I am in a knowledgeable place to offer any real positive input except to say that simplicity and ease of access is the key to running any business. This would include the area of marrying couples.
I do have a concern about spending money for forms etc. and then having to purchase new forms because they have been redesigned.
To coin two phrases, I think we should be careful of trying to firstly "reinvent the wheel" and "throwing the baby out with the bath water".
All in all though I agree with your points provided that they lead to simplicity.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 16:11
I agree with CoCA Marriage Submission
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 15:58
The comments are relevant to the forms. I agree with what has been requested and hope the BDM/ AG will update to industry specifications.
I specifically agree about the inclusion of all children that are coming together in the marriage. From previous marriage, relationships, adopted and those children born of the couple to be married.
Either all, or none is better than what is there.
I have not found too much difficulty with spacing except for the Divorce box which does not fit in much at all.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 14:55
I agree with the proposed changes by CoCa
Practical, useful and 'modernising' several area, such as 'illegitimate' 'groom'...and so on.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 14:11
.I agree with the submission - excellent work!
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 12:56
I wanted to thank the COCA (and those who contributed) for the work, comments and suggestions to date. I have read the recommendations and cannot think of additional inclusions or modifications. Great job.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 02 March 2015 11:34
I agree with these changes.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Friday, 27 February 2015 09:31
As there were no complaints about the previous NOIM or form 14 from either BDM's, celebrants, or their associations why not return to the system that was working.
The current state of confusion didn't exist before and all of us at State and at Federal levels were happy. Why do non celebrant Public Servants have to fix something that wasn't broken?
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 01 December 2014 20:01
My question is whether a wedding could legally be called "invalid" in a court of law, imply because old forms were used. If all the information called for under the terms of the Marriage Act is presented, surely the requirements have been met. It is not up to BDMs to declare a marriage invalid - their job is simply to register that a marriage has taken place, including the where and when. If anyone has an issue, they will take it to court for a resolution. Would that come down to the bit of paper on which all the correct details were recorded? I doubt it.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
CoCA COMMENT:
The Marriage Act Sections 45 and 48 would support your assumptions:
MARRIAGE ACT SECTION 45 FORM OF CEREMONY
(3) Where a marriage has been solemnised by or in the presence of an authorised celebrant, a certificate of the marriage prepared and signed in accordance with section 50 is CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE that the marriage was solemnised in accordance with this section.
MARRIAGE ACT SECTION 48 CERTAIN MARRIAGES NOT SOLEMNISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION TO BE INVALID
(1) Subject to this section, a marriage solemnised otherwise than in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Division is not a valid marriage.
(2) A marriage is NOT INVALID by reason of all or any of the following:
(a) failure to give the notice required by section 42, or a false statement, defect or error in such a notice;
(b) failure of the parties, or either of them, to make or subscribe a declaration as required by section 42, or a false statement, defect or error in such a declaration;
(c) failure to produce to the authorised celebrant a certificate or extract of an entry or a statutory declaration as required by section 42, or a false statement, defect or error in such a statutory declaration;
(d) failure to comply with any other requirement of section 42, or any contravention of that section;
(e) failure to comply with the requirements of section 44 or 46;
(f) failure to comply with the requirements of section 13.
(3) A marriage is NOT INVALID by reason that the person solemnising it was not authorised by this Act to do so, if either party to the marriage, at the time the marriage was solemnised, believed that that person was lawfully authorised to solemnise it, and in such a case the form and ceremony of the marriage shall be deemed to have been sufficient if they were such as to show an intention on the part of each of the parties to become thereby the lawfully wedded spouse of the other.
Monday, 01 December 2014 15:44
I find the print on the form 15 very hard to read, the grey colour and small print very difficult to define. I am happy about the Australian Passport being acceptable as id and hope that BDM have their end sorted soon. I haven't used to the new NOIM form but can see from what everyone says that it isn't very practical with some boxes too small and some too big.
Tuesday, 11 November 2014 13:38
I would like to see a separate form for under 18s, this would free up valuable space to design a better NOIM and Declaration.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Friday, 07 November 2014 12:40
one of my concerns and always has been is the conflict of interests…. eg
1. When Celebrant states “ we’, and all sorts of other services are offered, tables, chairs, seat covers, ribbons flowers (from other services) in fact everything except cooking dinner!!!
2. When someone/friend will take photo’s for an extra amount and may not be a professional photographer, even then some concern.
3. All “celebrants “ to be charged registered fee including religious groups.
4. Advertising “ lowering the standard”
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Tuesday, 04 November 2014 16:03
NOIM: There's still not enough space provided for evidence of divorce.
The spaces allocated for bride & groom's information haven't allowed for completing by hand. As we can still buy packs of NOIM's from CanPrint, I'm assuming this is still the case.
THE DECLARATION: has an inordinate amount of space allocated for marriage of a minor.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 03 November 2014 20:36
Hello - Where can I locate the instructional material for Wireless Public Speakers/Microphone requirements.
I took mine to a audio systems retailer and he said that mine is "just within the limits" and I cannot find the AG instructions to double-check. Indeed, the AGs Marriage Celebrant website is so very lacking with instructional information not only about audio systems but also about the change of forms.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Thank you
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 03 November 2014 20:20
Could the names of the witnesses to a marriage be pre-printed on the Form 16? The data is already there online.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
COCA COMMENT: This is an issue for the Registrars in the States and Territories providing on-line registration. However CoCA will liaise to see what can be done in this regard. Celebrant software programs should be available to provide this option, if you discuss this with the supplier
Monday, 03 November 2014 18:08
Can the AG's MLCS be persuaded to allow the old forms to be used for maybe another 6 months or so?
Many celebrants have weddings booked 12 - 18 months in advance anyway and the old forms have already been signed and lodged.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
COCA COMMENT: Any Notice of Intended Marriage Forms lodged before the 1st January 2015 continue to be valid for 18 months from the date lodged.
Monday, 03 November 2014 17:53
Could the NOIM & Marriage Certificate & DONLI be created as actual forms so one can 'tab' between them in a logical order. This won't affect the ability to handwrite should a couple/celebrant choose to do so.
NOIM: The Bride & bridegroom columns need to be wider, making the 'instructions' column to the left narrower. The amount of space given to the ID & supporting documents is way too much . The formatting on the Marriage Cert & DONLI leaves much to be desired.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
Monday, 03 November 2014 14:44
All the forms seem to have less space for details when filling them out. The back of Form 14 and the writing on there is very difficult to read.
COMMONWEALTH MARRIAGE CELEBRANT - NAME SUPPLIED & VERIFIED
