Marriage certificate

It may be required as evidence of change of a party's name, on issues of legitimacy of a child, during divorce proceedings, or as part of a genealogical history, besides other purposes.

Under Federal law, a certificate is issued at the time of marriage by a celebrant, for forwarding to the state or territory registry.

A similar (sometimes cut-down) document is often given to the couple on the day of the marriage, it is generally handwritten.

While legally valid as proof of marriage, is not generally acceptable as an official document.

[3] States and territories sometimes market commemorative marriage certificates, which generally have no official document status.

Marriage certificates are not generally used in Australia, other than to prove change-of-name, and proof of marital status in a divorce hearing.

The certificate does not contain a specific record of the intended new surname(s), if one or both spouses wish to change their name.

On 5 September 2005, the Registrar General in England and Wales officially abolished the traditional terms of "bachelor" and "spinster" and substituted "single" to coincide with the reform that introduced civil partnerships, explaining, "The word single will be used to mean a couple who has never been through a marriage or civil partnership.

"[10] On 1 July 1837, civil registration was introduced in England and Wales, providing a central record of all births, deaths and marriages.

4192 on the condition that the parties had to be free to contract marriage under the laws of the District of Columbia.

[15] On 9 November 1989, this provision of the United States Code was repealed, and the Department accordingly ceased issuing such certificates.