Registered marital status

The Registered Marital Status Standard variable identifies current and historical marriage arrangements that comply with the Marriage Act 1961 and have an official record.

The Registered Marital Status Standard reflects the 2017 amendments to the Marriage Act 1961 making same-sex marriage legal in Australia. The Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 removed references to sex or gender and redefined marriage as 'the union of two people to the exclusion of all others'.

Terminology used in this Standard is defined in the 'Glossary' available in this publication.