Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) in Darwin
The NOIM is the form that starts the legal marriage process. Here is what it does, when to lodge it, and how to prepare it properly.
The Notice of Intended Marriage, usually called the NOIM, is the form that starts the legal marriage process in Australia.
If you want to get married in Darwin, the completed NOIM must be given to your celebrant:
- at least one calendar month before the marriage, and
- no more than 18 months before the marriage
Start with NOIM Easy
Use NOIM Easy. It helps you complete the form step by step, generates a ready-to-print PDF, and can email a copy to your celebrant.
What the NOIM does
The NOIM:
- starts the legal notice period
- records your identity and relationship details
- tells the celebrant who is getting married and when
The NOIM does not:
- lock in a date by itself
- replace the rest of the paperwork
- allow the marriage to happen online
When the notice period starts
The one-month period starts when the celebrant receives the completed NOIM.
It does not start when:
- you ask a question
- you pay a fee
- you begin filling out the form
Can the NOIM be witnessed remotely?
Yes, in some situations.
Current Attorney-General guidance says that from 12 June 2024 the NOIM may be witnessed in person or remotely by audio-visual link.
The location rules matter:
- if the couple is in Australia, the remote witness must also be in Australia
- if the couple is outside Australia, the remote witness must also be outside Australia and cannot be a celebrant
What still has to happen in person
Even if the NOIM is witnessed remotely:
- the celebrant must meet separately and in person with each party before the marriage
- the marriage itself must happen in person
- both parties, the celebrant, and the two witnesses must all be physically present
What you usually need with the NOIM
- evidence of date and place of birth
- photo ID
- proof that any earlier marriage has ended
- translations if documents are not in English
Best order of steps
- Use Get Married to book and pay.
- Complete the NOIM with NOIM Easy.
- Have it witnessed properly.
- Send the paperwork through.
- Once the paperwork is received and checked, we confirm a date, time and place based on availability.
Book first, then get the paperwork ready
Fill out the booking form, pay the fee, then use NOIM Easy to prepare your Notice of Intended Marriage. Once we receive the paperwork, we confirm a date, time and place based on paperwork readiness and availability.