How old do I have to be to get married in Ontario?
You
must be at least 18 years old to be married in Ontario by licence. If you are 16
or 17 years old, you may marry if you have the consent in writing of both
parents. Other restrictions may apply.
Can my family or anyone else make me get married?
You
cannot be forced or coerced into marriage. Because marriage is a form of legal
contract, you must be willing to participate and it must be voluntary.
Do I need to get marriage licence?
In most cases, if you
are being married in a religious or civil ceremony, you must obtain a marriage
licence through your local municipality.
However, if you are being married in a religious ceremony, you may be eligible to be married by a publication of banns (making an announcement of the details of your intent to marry in your church, mosque or synagogue). Speak to your religious official for more information.
How do I get a marriage licence?
Contact your local
municipal office to get a marriage licence application form. Once you have
filled out the application, apply for the marriage licence in person. Make sure
you and your partner bring identification, such as a birth certificate (along
with any change of name certificates), current passport, Record of Immigrant
Landing or Canadian citizenship card, along with photo identification. There is
a fee for purchasing a marriage licence. Contact your municipal office for the
current fee. The marriage licence is valid anywhere in Ontario for three months
from the date of purchase.
Who is allowed to perform marriages?
A religious marriage
is performed by a member of a recognized religious organization authorized to
perform marriages in Ontario under the Marriage Act. The person must be
registered with the Office of the Registrar General to perform marriages. A list
of religious officials registered to perform marriages in Ontario is available
at http://www.serviceontario.ca/. A
judge, justice of the peace or municipal clerk may perform a civil marriage
under the authority of a marriage licence.
Can I get married over the Internet or the telephone? Can someone
else stand in for me or act as a proxy?
No, both partners stand
before the person solemnizing the marriage and the two witnesses. Immediately
after the marriage ceremony, the spouses, the solemnizer and the witnesses must
sign the marriage register.
Can I get married in Ontario if I don’t live there?
Yes.
If you are living outside Canada or are from another province, contact the
municipality in which you intend to get married for more information.
How do I get married again if I am divorced?
If you were
divorced in Canada, you must bring the original or court-certified copy of the
final decree, final judgment or certificate of divorce to your local municipal
office when you are purchasing the marriage licence. Contact your local
municipal office for further information. If you were divorced outside of
Canada, you must obtain authorization from the Minister of Government and
Consumer Services before you can be issued a marriage licence. For
authorization, send the following documents to the Office of the Registrar
General, Marriage Office, P.O. Box 4600, 189 Red River Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B
6L8:
A marriage licence application form, a Statement of Sole Responsibility form and a suggested format for a lawyer’s opinion letter are also available from most municipal offices.
How do I register the marriage?
The person who performed
the marriage must forward the signed marriage licence to the Office of the
Registrar General for registration.
How do I get a marriage certificate?
After the marriage,
you may receive a Record of Solemnization of Marriage from the person who
performed the wedding. This document includes the couple’s names, the date of
the marriage, the names of the witnesses and whether the marriage was performed
under the authority of a licence or the publication of banns. This is not a
legal record. A marriage certificate proves that a marriage has taken place. You
can get a marriage certificate application form online at http://www.serviceontario.ca/.
Do I have to change my name after I get married?
You
have several options. If you would like information regarding your name, please
check the website at http://www.serviceontario.ca/.
Is my marriage legal if I have an Ontario marriage
certificate?
Only a court can determine if your marriage is valid.
The Office of the Registrar General registers marriages that occur in Ontario
according to the Marriage Act. The marriage certificate is an official
record of the registration of the event but does not confer validity. If you
have questions about validity, you need to speak with a lawyer.
If I was married in another country, how do I get a marriage
certificate?
You need to contact the jurisdiction where you were
married to request a marriage certificate.
What if I have other questions? Where can I get more
information?
You can get more information on the Internet at
www.ServiceOntario.ca . You can also call the Office of the Registrar General in
Toronto at 416-325-8305 or outside Toronto (toll-free) at 1-800-461-2156.
February 2008