How to revoke a registered relationship

Either or both partners in a registered domestic relationship may apply to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to revoke the registration. Further details of the application process are provided below.

A registered relationship will automatically be revoked by the death or marriage of either party of the relationship.

Application to the Registrar

Application

Either or both partners in a registered relationship may apply to the Registrar for the revocation of the registration of their relationship.

Refer to the Registry’s Application to Revoke a Registered Domestic Relationship form. The revocation application must be accompanied by:

Application to the Registrar

• evidence of the identity of the partner or partners
• the application fee of $58.80
• any other document or information the Registrar requires to determine the application.

If only one partner is applying for revocation, he or she will also need to provide the Registrar with proof in the form of a statutory declaration that a copy of the revocation application has been served on the other partner to the relationship.

Service

A partner can serve a copy of the revocation application on the other partner in the relationship by:

• delivering it personally to the other partner
• sending it by registered post to the other partner’s last known place of residence.

The partner can prove service on the other partner by making a statutory declaration specifying:

• that a copy of the revocation application was served on the other partner
• the name of the person who served the copy
• the method of service used to serve the copy
• the date and time that the copy was served.

The Registrar will not consider a revocation application made by only one partner in the registered relationship if it is not accompanied by the required proof of service. However, a partner who is unable to serve a copy of the revocation application in the way described above may apply to the Registrar for permission to serve the application in another way or to dispense with service altogether.

Withdrawal

An application to revoke a domestic relationship may be withdrawn provided it is done within 90 days of the completed Application to Revoke a Registered Domestic Relationship form was lodged. An application to withdraw a revocation application must be made by both partners.

Refer to the Registry’s Withdrawal of an Application to Revoke a Registered Domestic Relationship form.

When you withdraw, the application fee is not refundable.

Revocation

Revocation of a domestic relationship does not happen immediately on application. The Registrar will not revoke the relationship until at least 90 days after the Application to Revoke a Registered Domestic Relationship form was lodged. It may be later than this if the Registrar has asked for further information to be provided.

Certificate

Partners whose registered domestic relationship has been revoked may make an application to the Registrar for a standard certificate.

The certificate can be used as proof of the revocation. The fee for this certificate is $25.80.

A standard certificate may be used as proof of a revocation of a domestic relationship for legal and other official purposes.

Further information

For further information on how to revoke your domestic relationship in Victoria, please contact the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages:

• website: www.bdm.vic.gov.au
• general enquiries: 1300 369 367 (from within Australia)
• customer service centre: ground floor, 595 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria (open 8.30am – 4.30pm: Monday-Friday except public holidays)
• postal address: PO Box 4332, Melbourne, Victoria 3001.