Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
What the Notice of Intended Marriage is, when to lodge it, what documents go with it, and how to prepare it properly for your Perth marriage.
The Notice of Intended Marriage, usually called the NOIM, is the form that starts the legal marriage process in Australia.
If you are getting married through the Perth Marriage Office, the NOIM is one of the key things we need from you before we can confirm your appointment.
What the NOIM Does
The NOIM tells your celebrant who is marrying, when you intend to marry, and the legal details we need to assess the marriage.
It is not the booking form.
The booking form tells us you want to go ahead. The NOIM is the legal notice required by marriage law.
When to Lodge It
The NOIM must be received:
- at least one calendar month before the marriage date
- no more than 18 months before the marriage date
Example:
- if we receive your NOIM on 10 April, the earliest normal marriage date is 10 May
How to Prepare It
The easiest way is to use NOIM Easy. It walks you through the form step by step and creates a PDF ready to print.
Who Can Witness the NOIM
If you sign in Australia, your signature must be witnessed by an authorised witness such as:
- an authorised celebrant
- a Commissioner for Declarations
- a justice of the peace
- a barrister or solicitor
- a medical practitioner
- a police officer
If you sign outside Australia, it must be witnessed by an authorised person such as:
- an Australian diplomatic officer
- an Australian consular officer
- a notary public
In some cases, the law also allows witnessing by audio-visual communication. If you are unsure, ask before you sign.
What Documents Usually Go With It
You will usually need:
- a passport, or a birth certificate or official extract plus photo ID
- a divorce order or death certificate if either person has been married before
- translations for non-English documents if needed
We need to see originals before the marriage can happen, even if copies are sent earlier.
Do We Both Need to Sign at the Same Time?
No. Couples do not always need to sign together.
In some situations one person can give notice first and the other can sign later before the marriage. If that applies to you, ask us and we will explain the cleanest way to do it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- using a name that does not match your legal documents
- choosing a marriage date that is too soon
- forgetting divorce or death documents
- sending the NOIM without the supporting ID
- getting the form witnessed by the wrong person
What Happens After We Receive It
Once we receive your NOIM and supporting documents, we check everything and then confirm the date, time, and place based on our availability.
Need Help?
If you want the fastest and easiest path:
- click Get Married
- prepare your NOIM with NOIM Easy
- send the paperwork to us once it has been witnessed correctly
Prepare Your NOIM Properly
Use NOIM Easy to work through the Notice of Intended Marriage step by step, then send it to us once it has been witnessed correctly.