Lodging the NOIM

By Sarah AirdCategories: Marriage Legalities

This entry is part 20 of 31 in the series Marriage Legalities

I wanted to clear up a common misconception about the first piece of paperwork we complete in the marriage process: lodging the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM). Couples often ask where they need to send the NOIM, or where and when I’m going to lodge it.

When I talk about “lodging” the NOIM, I mean lodging it with me as your authorised celebrant. Through lodging the NOIM with me, you are giving notice to the Australian Government (through me as the Government’s authorised representative) that you intend to get married in at least one month and no more than 18 months from the date of lodgement – lodgement with the celebrant, that is.

The words “lodging” or “lodgement” seem to confuse people: they simply mean giving your signed NOIM to your celebrant or minister.

I do not send the NOIM to (or “lodge” it with) anyone else until AFTER your wedding. At this time I send it to Births, Deaths and Marriages along with your Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage and the Official Certificate of Marriage you signed at the ceremony, so that your marriage can be registered.

The same goes for any other authorised celebrant (including religious celebrants); none of us send or lodge your NOIM anywhere before the wedding.

So the next time someone tells you their celebrant (or priest etc) lodged their NOIM with BDM or somewhere else before the wedding, you can tell them how it really works! And don’t worry, even some celebrants get confused about this, you’re not alone 🙂