Civil registration in Australia

Civil registration in Australia of births, deaths and marriages as well other life events (such as changes of name, registration of relationships, adoption or surrogacy arrangements, changes of sex) is carried out and maintained by each state and territory in Australia, in an office called a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Access to information on the register is restricted by period or relationship, and is usually provided at a fee (which may be waived) in the form of certificates.

Before the commencement of civil registration in each colony, records of baptisms, marriages and burials were kept by individual churches.

If the baby is born at home, a statement is required from a registered midwife, doctor or two other witnesses other than the parent(s).

[10] The full birth certificate in Australia is an officially recognized identity document generally in the highest category.

The declaration is required to enable appropriate government benefits to be paid, and for the child to be enrolled with Medicare.

[17] Funeral directors will also need some personal information about the deceased, such as birth details, death and burial, family members and home address and occupation.

The next of kin (eg., the current spouse, parent or child of the deceased) may need to get a birth and marriage certificate for the information.

The official death certificate is normally needed for legal and financial purposes, such as accessing pension benefits, claiming life insurance or selling assets.

[18] Under federal law, a celebrant issues a certificate at the time of marriage, which is forwarded to the state or territory registry.

They may be used to prove change of name, and are required to be produced as proof of marital status in a divorce hearing.