As your wedding day draws close, you may be busy with a range of last minute preparations to ensure that everything goes smoothly.  But did you know there is official paperwork that you must complete before you can be married?

A form titled Declaration of No Legal Impediment to Marriage must be signed by the couple and be witnessed by your celebrant before your marriage can take place.

So what are you declaring when you complete this form?

In essence, you are confirming who you are, who you are marrying, and that to your knowledge there is no legal reason why you cannot be married to each other.

For practical reasons, I like to have a couple complete the declaration at the time of the rehearsal, which is usually held a day or two before the ceremony takes place. It is important to be aware that legally this form cannot be signed as part of, or after, the ceremony.

This form is included in the paperwork that is submitted to the office of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the State or Territory where you are married so that the marriage can officially be registered.

Official information is available from the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department website at: http://www.ag.gov.au/FamiliesAndMarriage/Marriage/Pages/GettingmarriedinAustralia.aspx