Ontario Marriage License Application

Each couple wishing to be married in Ontario or have an Ontario-registered marriage must complete an Marriage License Application to purchase the Marriage License. One of you will need to complete the information and take it in person to an Ontario Marriage License issuer. Contact your City/Municipality Clerk's Office for the location of the Marriage License Issuer nearest you and any further requirements.

You will need to bring with you identification documents, 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, for both of the marriage couple.

As the Marriage License has a limited shelf life of 90 days, it should be acquired only during the 90 day period prior to the expected date of your wedding. We prefer to receive it when we conduct our planning meeting with the couple as it then saves about 25 minutes of administrative work from having to be done at your ceremony. And, unlike some couples, we actually remember to bring the document to the wedding ceremony!

Please note that each municipality sets its own rate for marriage license fees so it pays to shop around. We advise all of our clients as to where they can save substantially from the $135 fee presently charged by the City of Ottawa.

Other than the Marriage License, the only other thing that you need to have to complete your marriage is a wedding officiant and two witnesses. Nothing else is required legally. All of the additional expenses you incur are self-inflicted! And since virtually all couples will voluntarily choose to make significant optional expenditures for photos, video, music, etc, it really makes sense to engage an officiant who can help you and these other service providers maximize the opportunities that your ceremony can present to your families and guests in making it unique and memorable. In short, you don't have to be a Carleton graduate to realize that shopping around for the lowest-priced officiant for your ceremony is really a classic case of penny wise - pound foolish. You deserve the best. Treat everyone, including yourselves, to an exceptional experience. Call us.

• Marriage License Application (11018) (*pdf)
• Marriage License Application (11018) [Text Version]
• Non-Residents getting married in Ontario
• City of Ottawa
• List of other Municipal web sites
• Getting Remarried in Ontario after a divorce
• Spousal Name Changes
• Ontario Government web Site