Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 · Updated to 15 Dec 2018 · Part IV
33. Voluntary registration of marriages previously solemnized under religion or custom
Feedback & supportNotwithstanding section 4, the parties to any marriage solemnized under any law, religion, custom or usage prior to the appointed date may, if the marriage has not been registered, apply at any time to a Registrar in the prescribed form for the registration of the marriage.
appointed date
“appointed date” means the date of coming into operation of this Act;
The Registrar may require the parties to the marriage to appear before him and to produce such evidence of the marriage, either oral or documentary, as he may require and to furnish such other particulars as may be required by him.
Registrar
“Registrar” means a Registrar of Marriages appointed under this Act and includes the Registrar General, an Assistant Registrar General, a Superintendent Registrar, a Deputy Registrar and an Assistant Registrar of Marriages;
The Registrar may on being satisfied of the truth of the statements contained in the application register the marriage by entering the particulars thereof in the marriage register prescribed for this purpose.
marriage register
“marriage register” includes— (a) any register of marriages kept under any written law relating to registration of marriages prior to the appointed date; (b) marriage registers constituted under subsection 46A(1) and section 46B; and Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (c) microfilms, computers and other forms of records made under subsection 46A(2);
The entry of the marriage in the marriage register shall be signed by the Registrar making the entry and by both the parties to the marriage, if available, otherwise, by whichever party shall appear before the Registrar for effecting registration of the marriage.
Upon the registration of the marriage, the Registrar shall deliver the triplicate copy of the register to the parties to the marriage, the
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original to the Registrar General and the duplicate to the
Registrar General
“Registrar General” means the Registrar General of Marriages and includes a Deputy Registrar General of Marriages appointed under this Act.
Superintendent Registrar.
The Registrar shall not register a marriage under this section if he is satisfied that the marriage is void under this Act.