What is a Shortening of Time?

It is possible to shorten the minimum notice time for a marriage to less than the stipulated period of one month and one day if special circumstances set out in the Regulations to the Marriage Act 1961 are met.  This will involve you first meeting with your Marriage Celebrant for the purpose of completing as much as possible of the Notice of Intended Marriage (NIM).  You then take the NIM with you to either your Local Court or the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, either of which are  the Prescribed Authorities in this regard. 

A list of Prescribed Authorities may be found at the following web address: http://www.ag.gov.au/mclisting

A Prescribed Authority can shorten the required period of notice if they are satisfied that circumstances stipulated in the Regulations are met. For your convenience, the following are the five categories of circumstances as set out in the Regulations.

1. Employment related or other travel commitments.
2. Wedding or celebrant arrangements, or religious considerations.
3. Medical reasons.
4. Legal proceedings.
5. Error in giving notice.

The reason for seeking a Shortening of Time for notice must fall within one of these categories before an application can be considered.  There is no capacity to grant a Shortening of Time outside these circumstances.  Even so, a Shortening of Time is not automatic.  When making a decision, the Prescribed Authority will weigh up the information provided in support of the application and may seek additional information as outlined further in the Regulations.