If you have any
concerns regarding my services, please let me know immediately so I may rectify the situation.
If you are browsing the
net looking for information on how to make a complaint about a celebrant, you may find the following information
useful.
If you have a concern about the service you
have received from a marriage celebrant in relation to your wedding you may make a complaint. If you
have any concerns you should discuss them with the celebrant first but if you are not able to do this, or
believe your complaint requires further consideration, there is a special procedure set out in the Marriage
Regulations to enable complaints concerning the performance of marriage celebrants to be responded to. The
following information outlines the initial process to be
followed.
The complaint must be in writing and made
to:
The Registrar of Marriage Celebrants
Commonwealth Attorney-General's
Department
Robert Garran Offices
National Circuit
BARTON, ACT 2600
Australia
It must be made within 3 months of the matter
complained of.
The complaint must contain the following
details:
§ The complaint must state your full name and contact details (anonymous complaints cannot be
accepted),
§ The name of the marriage celebrant to whom the complaint relates,
§ The full details of the complaint, and
Whether or not it is or has been the subject of
other proceedings (such as a report to the police).
If you suffer from a disability and require
assistance in preparing the complaint the Marriage Celebrants Section may be able to provide
this.
Not all complaints will be accepted but if the
Registrar decides to deal with the complaint you will be asked to provide any additional material you wish to
provide in support of the complaint. This may include signed statements or statutory declarations from
witnesses. The material must be in writing. The Registrar may also seek additional information
from you if necessary.
You must provide to the Registrar a written
statement consenting to the marriage celebrant being notified of the complaint and being given a copy of any
information or material provided by you to the Registrar in support of the complaint. If the Registrar does not
receive such a statement the complaint cannot proceed and will be terminated. No complaint will be
recorded.
The marriage celebrant will receive a written
notice stating that the complaint has been made. They will receive a copy of the complaint and any
supporting material provided by you. They will be given your name and that of any supporting witnesses,
but no contact details will be provided.
They will be invited to respond to the complaint and provide any additional
material they wish in writing in support of their response. This might include, for example, a signed
statement from one or more witnesses.
The complaint will then be dealt with by the
Registrar. If appropriate it may be dealt with by conciliation or a more formal determination
process. If the Registrar decides the complaint is well founded, there are a number of steps the
Registrar may take including several disciplinary measures against the celebrant. The Registrar does
not have the power to require the celebrant to repay any money to you, although the Registrar may make a
recommendation to that effect.
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