How to register in Victoria

Commencing 1 December 2008, the Relationships Act 2008 enables couples to register their domestic relationship with the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

The registration criteria

A registrable relationship

A domestic relationship that can be registered in Victoria is:

A relationship between two adult persons who are not married to each other but are a couple, where one or each provides personal and financial commitment and support of a domestic nature for the material benefit of the other (but not for fee or reward or on behalf of another person or organisation), irrespective of their genders and whether or not they are living under the same roof.

Eligibility criteria

Partners in a registrable domestic relationship can apply to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to register their relationship if each partner in the relationship is:

• domiciled or ordinarily resident in Victoria
• not married nor in a registered relationship
• not in another relationship that could be registered in Victoria.

The registration process

Application

An application to register a domestic relationship must include:

• a statutory declaration from each partner verifying that the partner:
• consents to the registration and is not married or in a registered relationship
• is not in another relationship that could be registered in Victoria
• evidence of the identity and age of each partner
• the application fee of $180
• any other document or information the Registrar requires to determine the application.

Refer to the Registry’s Application to Register a Domestic Relationship form.

Withdrawal

Either or both partners can withdraw their application to register their domestic relationship provided that it is done within 28 days of the completed Application to Register a Domestic Relationship was lodged.

Refer to the Registry’s Withdrawal of Application to Register a Domestic Relationship form.

When you withdraw, the application fee is not refundable.

Registration

Registration of a domestic relationship does not happen immediately on application. The Registrar will not register the relationship until at least 28 days after the Application to Register a Domestic Relationship form was lodged. It may be later than this if the Registrar has asked for further information to be provided. The Registrar may also refuse to register the relationship.

Certificate

A partner to a domestic relationship that has been registered may make an application to the Registrar for a standard certificate or a commemorative certificate.

The standard certificate may be used as proof of a relationship for legal and other purposes. The fee for this certificate is $25.80.

A commemorative relationship certificate is not a recognised proof of relationship document but a decorative piece for commemorative use only. The fee for a commemorative relationship certificate is $39.00.

Further information

For further information on how to register a 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.