What is a NOIM: Do You Need It and Why is It So Important?
- Nov 11, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 22, 2025
If you’re planning your wedding and you’ve come across the term “NOIM”, you might be thinking… what on earth is that?
Don’t worry — it sounds very official (and it is!), but it’s really just one of the key steps that makes your marriage legally recognised in Australia. Here at Michelle and Dusty Wedding Ceremonies, we like to make things simple, so let’s walk you through exactly what a NOIM is, when to complete it, and how we make the whole process easy for you.
So, what exactly is a NOIM?
NOIM stands for Notice of Intended Marriage. It’s a legal document you and your partner fill out to let your celebrant (and the Australian Government) know that you plan to get married.
Think of it as your official heads-up that you’re tying the knot!
The NOIM is required under the Marriage Act 1961, and every couple in Australia must complete one. It includes your personal details, proof of identity, and any previous marriage information. Once it’s signed and lodged, your celebrant can perform your marriage ceremony anytime within the next 18 months.
When do you need to complete it?
You need to lodge your NOIM at least one month before your wedding day, but not more than 18 months in advance.
That one-month rule is a legal minimum and can’t be skipped (unless you apply for what’s called a “Shortening of Time” through your local court or registry in special circumstances).
So, if you’re planning to get married on 30th November, your NOIM must be received by your celebrant no later than 30th October. Once it has been lodged, your date is legally locked in — which means it’s officially wedding countdown time!
Who can witness your NOIM?
When you first sign your NOIM, it must be witnessed by an authorised person.
If you’re signing it in Australia, your witnesses can be:
An authorised marriage celebrant (that’s us!)
A justice of the peace (JP)
A barrister or solicitor
A doctor
A police officer
If you’re overseas, your NOIM can be witnessed by:
An Australian diplomatic or consular officer
A notary public
An employee of the Commonwealth
Your witness simply confirms your identity and ensures you’re signing willingly — it’s all part of keeping things legal and above board.
What documents do you need?
When completing your NOIM, you’ll need to show:
Your birth certificate or passport (Australian or foreign passport is accepted)
Photo ID (such as your driver’s licence)
If either of you has been married before, you’ll also need to provide:
An original divorce certificate or decree absolute (if divorced), or
An original death certificate (if widowed)
Your celebrant will sight these documents and note the details on your NOIM — so make sure everything is official and up to date.
We make the NOIM process easy!
At Michelle and Dusty Wedding Ceremonies, we know paperwork isn’t everyone’s favourite part of wedding planning — so we’ve made it as simple as possible.
We have a handy online NOIM form link that allows you to pre-fill your details before your appointment with us. It automatically generates the official form with your information already entered, saving time and cutting down on mistakes.
Once you’ve filled it in online, we’ll review everything together, verify your ID, and lodge it correctly — so you can relax knowing it’s done right the first time.
Can you lodge your NOIM online?
Not directly with the government — but that’s where we come in!
The NOIM must be lodged with your celebrant, not online or through Births, Deaths and Marriages. The original signed document needs to be with us before your wedding day.
Once it’s lodged, we keep it safe until after your ceremony when we handle all the final submissions for you.
Common little mistakes (that we’ll help you avoid!)
We make sure all our couples get this right, but it’s good to know the common trip-ups:
Forgetting the one-month minimum notice rule.
Having your NOIM witnessed by someone not legally authorised.
Using an old version of the form (we always use the latest one for you!).
That’s why having an experienced celebrant team makes all the difference — we guide you through every step, so nothing gets missed.
In a nutshell...
The NOIM might sound like just another bit of red tape, but it’s actually a really exciting milestone — it’s the first official step toward becoming a married couple!
At Michelle and Dusty Wedding Ceremonies, we handle all the legal parts for you so you can focus on the fun stuff — writing your vows, picking your styling, and planning your dream wedding ceremony.
Our goal is to keep things easy, clear, and stress-free. You bring the love, and we’ll bring the know-how (and maybe a few happy tears too).
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