Marriage certificate civil unions (generally same sex or sex independent) to be registered, however these are not regarded as marriages, as the Marriage Act of 1961 does not currently recognise them. Associated certificates such as the DFAT "Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage" (CNI) or state and territory "Single Status Certificates" are also available. Proof of divorce certificates are issued by the Family Court of Australia (or the Family Court of Western Australia for residents of that state). On 1 July 1837 civil registration was introduced in England and Wales, providing a central record of all births, deaths and marriages. A Registrar
Bachelor party prior to their wedding, called "Polterabend". At the Polterabend, the guests break old porcelain and earthenware to bring luck to the couple's marriage. The tradition is said to go back to pre-Christian times; by noisily breaking ceramics, evil spirits – especially spirits of envy – are supposed to be driven out. In the last couple of years, Anglo-style bachelor parties have become more and more popular among bachelors. In parts of northern Germany that lack a Carnival tradition, funny costuming has become a popular part of bachelor or bachelorette parties. Some parts of Germany have a related custom, in which