Service standards

Registration of births, deaths & marriages

If the information given is complete and accurate from the date of receipt by us, we will register a:

• birth within four days
• death within three days
• marriage within six days.

Issue of certificates

On receipt of a properly completed application, provision of identification and payment of the required fee, at the Perth Registry Office we will produce a:

• certificate (WA births 1970 onwards or deaths and marriages 1984 onwards) while you wait. For a mailed application allow up to five to seven working days depending on postal delivery time.
• certificate (WA births 1841-1969 or deaths and marriages 1841-1983). Allow up to five to seven working days depending on postal delivery time for an in-person application or receipt by mail (no priority fee paid). If returning to the Registry to collect the certificate, allow up to three working days.
• priority-paid certificate (WA births 1841-1969 or deaths and marriages 1841-1983) while you wait, or within 24 hours of receipt by mail plus postal delivery time (priority fee paid).

On receipt of a properly completed application, provision of identification and payment of the required fee at other locations (Albany, Armadale, Bunbury, Fremantle, Geraldton, Joondalup, Kalgoorlie, Mandurah, Midland or Rockingham - see Locations & Links for addresses) court staff will:

• produce a certificate (WA births 1970 onwards or deaths and marriages 1984 onwards) usually on the same day
• fax a certificate application (WA births 1841-1969 or deaths and marriages 1841-1983) to the Perth Registry Office for processing. Allow up to five working days plus postal delivery time (no priority fee paid)
• fax a priority-paid certificate application (WA births 1841-1969 or deaths and marriages 1841-1983) to the Perth Registry Office to be processed within 24 hours of receipt plus postal delivery time (priority fee paid).

On receipt of a properly completed application, provision of identification and payment of the required fee at other regional courts (see Locations & Links  for addresses) court staff will fax all:

• certificate applications (WA birth, death and marriage 1841 onwards) to the Perth Registry Office for processing. Allow up to 5 working days plus postal delivery time (no priority fee paid)
• priority-paid certificate applications (WA birth, death and marriage 1841 onwards) to the Perth Registry Office to be processed within 24 hours of receipt plus postal delivery time (priority fee paid).

Commemorative birth certificates are not included in these service guarantees.

Change of name

On receipt of a properly completed Application to Register Change of Name form, identification and payment of the required fee, we will issue a Change of Name Certificate within five days plus postal delivery time. Allow an additional ten days if paying by personal cheque.

Corrections to records

If all necessary supporting information, including identification documentation, is provided and the required fee is paid, we will:

• Amend a record within four days plus postal delivery time.

Marriage ceremonies

Subject to all formalities being met and fees being paid, we will conduct a ceremony suited to your requirements, in a modern setting, within the hours of 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday.

Service standards

We undertake to:

• give friendly and helpful service
• treat all customers with courtesy, respect and impartiality
• maintain the highest ethical standards
• be sensitive to the special needs of customers
• answer telephone calls promptly and identify who is answering the call
• provide information needed on Registry processes
• reply to general correspondence within five working days. A contact name and phone number will be given in the correspondence
• continually strive to improve ourselves.

Accuracy, privacy and security

We recognise our responsibility to:

• accurately record all information given to us
• treat all information as strictly confidential
• release information from birth, change of name, death, and marriage records only to the person subject of the record or their authorised agent. Exceptions will only be in accordance with official policy or directive
• keep all records secure from unauthorised access
• permanently preserve all records we create.

If you are not satisfied

If you are not happy with our service, you should ask to speak to a senior officer or write or email to the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages at the address below.

Contact details

Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
Department of the Attorney General
Level 10, 141 St Georges Terrace
PERTH  WA 6000
Phone: 1300 305 021
Fax: (08) 9264 1599

PO Box 7720
Cloisters Square
Perth WA 6850

Hours:  8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).