Get a non-disclosure direction

You can block access to your birth, marriage, civil union and name change records if your safety is at risk.

If you think that public access to your records would put you or your family in danger, you can apply for a non-disclosure direction.

A non-disclosure direction means that the only people who can access your records are:

  • you
  • authorised government departments doing their regular work
  • your parent or guardian if you’re under 18
  • your power of attorney if you have one.

Anyone else who tries to request your records will be advised that the information exists but cannot be given to them.

A non-disclosure direction lasts for 5 years.

Details about current non-disclosure directions may be shared with authorised government departments so they can add extra safeguards to your information. See: Approved information sharing agreements.

Get a non-disclosure direction

You need to complete a Request, reinstate or withdraw a non-disclosure form.

You also need to complete a General identity declaration form:

You must also provide the original or a certified true copy of at least one of:

  • a current protection order
  • a current restraining order
  • a police report
  • a statutory declaration or letter from a police officer, lawyer, medical doctor, Justice of the Peace, or your employer, and/or
  • any other evidence you have to show that access to your records could be dangerous to you or your family.

If you’re applying for:

  • someone under 18 who’s in your care, you need to provide evidence that you’re that child’s parent or legal guardian
  • someone over 18 as their power of attorney or representative, you need to provide a certified copy of the power of attorney document, or a written authority that shows you’re their authorised representative.

Renew a non-disclosure direction

After 5 years, your non-disclosure direction will expire unless you renew it. You will not be contacted to say when it’s going to expire.

To reinstate it for another 5 years, you need to provide evidence that your safety is still at risk.

Cancel a non-disclosure direction

You can withdraw a non-disclosure direction anytime.

You need to complete a Request, reinstate or withdraw a non-disclosure form.

You also need to complete a General identity declaration form:

If you make your own information public

If you have a non-disclosure direction and you make any part of your information publicly available, anyone can then ask Births, Deaths and Marriages to verify whether that information matches your registered information.

Who to contact for more help

If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact the following agency.

Utility links and page information

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