The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages may register the relationship 28 days after the application is made. The period of 28 days before registration provides for a “cooling off period”. During this time either of the applicants may withdraw the application by giving the Registrar a withdrawal notice using the approved form.

The Registrar must register the relationship as soon as practicable after the end of the “cooling off period” provided that the Registrar is satisfied that the relationship may be registered (in other words, it meets the eligibility requirements of section 5 of the Act) and neither applicant has withdrawn the application.

Registration takes effect upon entry by the Registrar into the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

See sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Relationships Register Act 2016 (SA).