Marriage Certificate Access Policy

Type of Access

Applicant

Specific requirements

Historical Access

Anyone (must be 16 years of age or over)

For marriages 75 years old or more

Family Access

One of the parties of the marriage (bride or groom named in the certificate)

--

Child of marriage
Other relative

Restricted, unless the applicant can provide:
Written authority from the bride or groom named in the certificate; or
Evidence that both the bride and groom named in the certificate are deceased; or
Evidence that the certificate is required for some legal right or entitlement

Access to original information from an adoption record

Must have written authority from the Department for Community Development

Deceased Estate Matter

Executor or Administrator
Public Trustee

Application must be on business letterhead, or must show evidence of applicant's executor, administrator or trustee status

Welfare

Government or non-Government Welfare Agency

Application must be on business letterhead and must be acting in the interests of or with the written authority of the bride or groom named in the certificate

Court - State or Federal

--

Application must be on Court letterhead or Court Order provided

Law Enforcement

Any Government body dealing in law enforcement e.g. Police, Anti Corruption Commission, Courts etc

Application must be made on business letterhead and must be made in pursuance of an investigation or preparation of a prosecution or pursuant to a valid warrant or Court Order
Does not include debt collectors or private investigators

Medical Access

Medical organisations or government body requiring to contact persons with a potentially life threatening medical condition

Applications must be on business letterhead and referred to Registrar for consideration
For general medical research enquiries refer to Registrar for consideration

Government Bodies - Statutory Access

Any Government body having right of access under Federal or State legislation e.g. Child Support Agency, Centrelink, Department for Community Development

Application must be on business letterhead or approved form e.g. Child Support Agency verification form

Solicitor

--

Application must be on business letterhead and Solicitor must be acting for a person entitled to access under "Family Access" or access for "Deceased Estate Matter" and subject to the same requirements

Marriage Celebrant

--

Marriage certificate applications with Proof of Identity from the bride or groom, can be accepted when received from the celebrant with marriage registration papers, provided the application is signed by the bride or groom as the applicant.  The certificate of marriage will then be posted directly to the applicant.

Other agent (including Consulates)

Any person with written authority from the bride or groom named in the certificate or a person entitled to the certificate as identified in this policy document

Identification documents of bride or groom named in the certificate or other person entitled to the certificate as identified in this policy document also required