Obtaining a Marriage License
In order to obtain a marriage license in Ontario, it is necessary for both parties to attend at the nearest city or town hall, with the following documentation:
  1. Marriage License Application (Form 11018), completed and signed
    (You can download this form from the Ontario Government Website)
  2. $100 cash (Canadian funds)
  3. Proof of age
The application forms are available at the license issuing office, and may be completed at the same time. In most cases, the license will be issued immediately, and there is no waiting period.
Prior Divorce IN Canada
Where either or both parties have been divorced in Canada, it will be necessary to present, in addition to the above, the original or a court-certified copy of the final divorce order or orders.
"Court-certified" means a copy certified and sealed by the court which issued the original final divorce order.
Prior Divorce OUTSIDE Canada
Where one or both of the parties has been previously divorced outside of Canada, additional authorization must be obtained from the Ontario government, and this authorization must be presented at the time the license is issued.
In order to obtain this authorization, the following documentation must be submitted to the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations located in Thunder Bay, Ontario:
  1. Marriage License Application, completed and signed
  2. Court-Certified copy of each divorce decree
  3. Letter of opinion from an Ontario lawyer in good standing that each divorce decree would be recognized in Canada
  4. Statement of Sole Responsibility, completed and signed
(The form entitled "Statement of Sole Responsibility" states that the validity of a foreign divorce remains the repsonsibility of the license applicant, and that the Ontario government assumes no responsibility if the foreign divorce turns out to be invalid. This form is generally available with the Marriage License application.)
The presence of a prior foreign divorce considerably lengthens the time required to obtain a marriage license in Ontario. It is important, therefore, that you start the application process well in advance of your planned trip to Niagara Falls.
The Lawyer's Letter of Opinion
In order to prepare the Letter of Opinion, most Ontario lawyers will require the following:
  1. Court-certified copy of each of the original decrees of divorce
  2. Jurisdiction (state) of residence of each of the parties to the divorce at the date the decree was granted
  3. Length of time each of the parties to the divorce had been actually resident in that jurisdiction immediately prior to the date of the decree

    4. In the event the decree of divorce was obtained prior to 1985, the following information will also be required:

  4. Domicile of each of the parties to the divorce (if different from residence) at the date the decree was granted
(A person's "domicile" means a jurisdiction ordinarily considered to be home, to which that person intends to return. For example, a member of the armed forces or someone on a temporary job assignment could be resident in Alaska for three years, but domiciled in Michigan, because Michigan remains their real home. In most cases, however, domicile and residence are the same.)
Our Services
If you are coming to Niagara Falls to get married, we are prepared to assist you with the necessary paperwork, particularly if there is a prior foreign divorce involved. We can provide services on two levels, as follows:
  1. Lawyers' Letter of Opinion (assuming the foreign divorce is recognized in Ontario, of course)
  2. the entire Marriage License Application, from start to finish
Please contact our office, and we will be pleased to discuss fees with you.

Profile | Contacting Us | Fee Information | Buying a House | Making a Will |
Powers of Attorney | Trade-marks | Marriage in Ontario | Main

Malcolm A.F. Stockton
Barrister, Solicitor & Trade-mark Agent
4786 Queen Street, Box 868
Niagara Falls ON
Canada L2E 6V6
stockton@iaw.com