Marriage Licences

Both Applicants in Attendance

• Completed Marriage Licence Application form signed by both applicants
• Identification for Both Applicants:
  • Either valid birth certificates OR Valid passport for each applicant
  • And government issued photo identification (example: driver's licence) for each applicant

Only One Applicant in Attendance

If both applicants cannot appear in person, one applicant can bring in the following:

• Completed Marriage Licence Application form signed by both applicants
• Identification for Both Applicants:
  • Either a valid birth certificate or valid passport for both applicants
  • And Government issued photo identification (ex. driver's licence) for both applicants

Divorced Applicants

Divorced in Canada

You will need to bring official proof of the divorce with you when you apply for a marriage licence. This can be the original or a court-certified copy of one of three documents:

• the final decree
• the final judgment
• a certificate of divorce

A copy may be obtained from the court where the divorce was granted and can only be certified by the court registrar (a photocopy is not acceptable).

Divorced Outside Canada/Foreign Divorce

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married. The government needs to validate these documents. This process can take up to 4 weeks.

You will need to send the following documents to ServiceOntario:

• marriage licence application form: completed and signed
• statement of sole responsibility: for each divorce (signed by both people who are planning to get married and a witness)
• legal opinion letter: from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people who plan to get married, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario
• divorce decree or annulment: an original or court-certified copy in English or French. If the decree is in another language, you will need to include a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator

Note: Completed Foreign Divorce Authorizations are sent to applicants by courier. It is important that your full mailing address including suite/unit/apartment and buzzer number is included on the marriage licence application form, or the courier package cannot be delivered and will be returned to ServiceOntario.

Get a marriage licence application form

Get a statement of sole responsibility form

Please mail these documents directly to:

ServiceOntario
Marriage Office
PO Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay ON  P7B 6L8

You can also request to have a sample legal opinion letter sent to your lawyer using: Update a Marriage Office request (Download as PDF)

For more information, call:

• Toll-free: 1-800-461-2156 if you’re outside of Toronto but within North America
• 416-325-8305 if you’re within the Greater Toronto Area or outside of North America
• TTY: 416-325-3408

Widowed Applicants

Where an applicant is a widow(er), you must bring a copy of the Death Notice provided by the Funeral Home or a copy of the Death Certificate.

Applicants Under 18 Years of Age

If a person is under the age of 18, consent of both parents is required using Form 6 - Consent to Marriage - Sworn Affidavit. If there is separation, divorce or death involved, parents or parent with custody can sign.

A marriage certificate is a document containing the details of a marriage performed in Ontario. You can order a copy or multiple copies online through Service Ontario if the marriage is registered in Ontario. You can use this certificate to change your name, process a divorce, or as a record of family history. The Municipality does not provide marriage certificates.

Before you can get a marriage certificate, your marriage needs to be registered. The officiant who performed the marriage will mail your completed and signed marriage licence to Service Ontario following the wedding ceremony so the marriage can be registered. You can order a marriage certificate about 6-8 weeks after this happens.

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. A Record of Solemnization of Marriage is not the same thing as a marriage certificate.

If you wish to change your last name after you get married, please visit Service Ontario's website for more information. You will require a marriage certificate in order to change your last name.

The Municipality of Brockton does not provide Civil Marriage/Officiant Services.

If you need someone to legally marry you, we suggest you review one of the following services or individuals for their availability to officiate your wedding:

Websites listing Grey-Bruce Officiants:

• All Seasons Weddings
• Team Awesome Weddings

Individuals in Grey Bruce who are Officiants:

• Cindy Steadman (located in Walkerton)
  Contact Cindy by Email or Phone 519-330-2274

• Kerry Withrow (located in Walkerton)
  Contact Kerry by Email or visit his website

• Anne Lemon (located in Owen Sound)
  Contact Anne by Phone 905-251-1091 or visit her website

Municipalities Offering Civil Marriages/Officiants:

• Township of Huron Kinloss
  Visit their website or Phone 519-395-3735
• City of Owen Sound
  Visit their website or Phone 519-376-4440 Ext. 1268 or Email
• Town of South Bruce Peninsula
  Visit their website or Phone 519-534-1400