78Lost official certificates

78 Lost official certificates

(1) This section applies if an official certificate in relation to a marriage that has been forwarded to the appropriate registering authority for the marriage in accordance with subparagraph 50(4)(a)(i) of the Act is not received by the authority or is subsequently lost or destroyed by the authority.

Note: See subsection 50(7) of the Act.

(2) The appropriate registering authority for the marriage may, by written notice, request the person who solemnised the marriage, or any other person the authority reasonably believes may be able to comply with the request, to: (a) if the person has custody or control of the official certificate in relation to the marriage—do the following within 14 days after the day the notice is given: (i) make a copy of the certificate that has been retained in accordance with subparagraph 50(4)(a)(ii) of the Act; (ii) certify in writing that the copy is a true copy of the certificate; (iii) send the copy to the authority; or (b) if the person does not have custody or control of the official certificate in relation to the marriage—do the following within 14 days after the notice is given: (i) make reasonable inquiries to find out the name and address of any other person who does have custody or control of the certificate; (ii) notify the authority of the outcome of those inquiries. (3) The copy certified under subsection (2) has the same force and effect as if it were the official certificate in relation to the marriage.