Before you get married, you need:
Marriage licence
You and your spouse, two witnesses and the Officiant / Minister who
performed the marriage will need to sign the licence immediately after (or
during) the ceremony.
Get a marriage licence:
To get a marriage licence, you will need to:
*fill out a marriage licence application
*bring the completed application to your local city hall, town hall or
municipal office
*show original identification with your current legal name, date of birth
and signature * both people getting married will need to provide valid
identification (at least one *birth* identification; e.g. passport, birth
certificate, etc)
*pay a fee (fees vary and depend on the municipality).
A marriage licence is valid for 3 months from the date it was issued.
Marriage Certificate
A Marriage Certificate is the legal record of a marriage. It lists the date
and place of the marriage, and names of the people who were married. You
need this document to:
*change a last name
*show legal proof you are married
*apply for certain social benefits
*settle an estate
Immediately following the ceremony you will receive a Record of Solemnization of Marriage, but it is not your Marriage Certificate. Before you can get a Marriage Certificate, your marriage needs to be registered. The official who performed the marriage will do this by sending your completed and signed Marriage Licence to ServiceOntario. You must wait 8-12 weeks after the date of your ceremony before you can apply for your Marriage Certificate. Your Marriage Certificate arrives in the mail to the address you indicate in your application