Josh Withers · Marriage Laws · 2 min read
Is your celebrant authorised?
It's quick and easy to tell if your Australian marriage celebrant is a fraud or legitimate
In Australia, Commonwealth-authorised marriage celebrants play a vital role in conducting legal marriage ceremonies according to the law, but not everyone can be a celebrant. This is a completely different process than America and you can’t just become a minister of religion online like Joey from Friends.
The appointment process is regulated by the Attorney-General’s Department to ensure high standards of service and legal compliance.
To become an authorised marriage celebrant, candidates must first complete a Certificate IV in Celebrancy, submit an application to the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants, including evidence of their qualifications and a legal declaration of their suitability.
The Registrar assesses each application against strict criteria, including the candidate’s knowledge of marriage law, their commitment to serving the community, and their understanding of cultural and religious sensitivities. Successful applicants must also pass a legal knowledge test and pay the required registration fee. From desire to become authorised it will take over a year for more people, sometimes two.
If you’re planning a wedding and want to verify whether your chosen celebrant is authorised, you can easily check their status through the Attorney-General’s Find a Marriage Celebrant service. This online register is regularly updated and lists all currently registered celebrants who can legally perform marriages anywhere in Australia. Simply search by name or location to confirm your celebrant’s credentials.
Remember, only celebrants listed on this official register have the legal authority to conduct marriages throughout Australia. This applies across all states and territories, giving couples the flexibility to marry anywhere in the country with their chosen celebrant.
For wedding ceremonies to be legally valid, they must be conducted by a celebrant who appears on this register at the time of the ceremony. It’s a good idea to verify your celebrant’s status close to your wedding date to ensure everything is in order for your special day.
