Celebrant administration
Marriage Education Services
Entering into a marriage is an important undertaking. It changes things, even if you’ve been living together for some time. You already know that, or you wouldn’t be taking the step of getting married. Something to consider before you move too far down the path of marriage is participating in some form of marriage education service. These can be conducted in personalised sessions between you and a marriage guidance counsellor, or as part of a public course for soon-to-be married couples, or even in on-line form. Marriage education, in any of its forms will help you both have the kinds of important conversations about your marriage beforehand that ensures you have a happy marriage afterwards.
As a part my service I’ll provided you with a brochure titled “Happily Ever… Before and After”. I provide it to every couple I marry as a part of my obligations under the Marriage Act 1961. The brochure touches on the legal requirements for marriage, and some of the things that you’ll need to think about after your marriage, like changing your name, health benefits, citizenship, your will and taxation. If you can’t wait for a copy, here’s a link to a downloadable version from the Attorney General’s Department, including translated versions for languages other than English.
Working with a Celebrant
Code of Conduct
You should know that not anybody can call themselves an Authorised Celebrant nor solemnise marriages in Australia. I am authorised by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s department and I am required to act in specified ways in order to maintain my authority. My actions are governed by the Code of Practice for Commonwealth-registered Marriage Celebrants.
Here is a link to the most up-to-date version of the document that you can download if required.
Lodging a Complaint
I start from the assumption that everything will go well between us – it always seems to, but if for some reason you’re unhappy with my service, you have access to a formal complaint process. In order to lodge a complaint, you’ll need to contact the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants in writing via:
Email: marriagecelebrantssection@ag.gov.au
or
Registrar of Marriage Celebrants
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Your complaint must include:
· Your full name and contact details
· My name
· Full details of the complaint including the date and place of the marriage
· Whether the complaint is also part of things like a report to police or legal action
You’ll need to agree in writing to me receiving your complaint along with any supporting documents. An official from the A-G’s department will make a preliminary assessment, then send it to us both. We’ll both be given the opportunity to comment on the preliminary assessment and provide additional supporting material if desired. A final determination of the complaint will then be made.
Let’s hope it never comes to that, but now you know what to do anyway.
