George Boyle
After a wedding, a marriage certificate is required for various legal and personal purposes. In Ontario, a marriage certificate is a record containing details of the marriage, such as the names of those married and the date and place of the ceremony. While the marriage officiant may provide a Record of Solemnization of Marriage, this is not the same as a certified marriage certificate. There may be delays in receiving the certificate due to processing times and backlogs, and it is recommended to wait at least 6-8 weeks before ordering a marriage certificate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to get a marriage certificate after the wedding | 6-16 weeks |
| Registration time | Up to 10 weeks |
| Time to get the status of the online application | 1 business day |
| Time to process divorce documents from outside Canada | Up to 4 weeks |
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What You'll Learn
Processing times for marriage certificates
To obtain a marriage certificate, the marriage must first be registered. The officiant who performed the marriage has a legal obligation to submit the completed and signed marriage licence to ServiceOntario within 48 hours of the ceremony. It may take up to 10 weeks to register a marriage, although some sources suggest that it can take up to 12-16 weeks due to backlogs. Once the marriage is registered, you can apply for a marriage certificate. The processing time for the certificate is approximately 6-8 weeks. However, if the marriage occurred before 1991, there may be an additional delay of 6-8 weeks for the registration to be made available before processing can be completed.
You can check the status of your online application 1 business day after submission. If you have not received a payment receipt, you may need to contact ServiceOntario. It is also possible to apply for a marriage certificate in person at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, and pay by cash, money order, Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, or Debit Mastercard.
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Temporary marriage certificates
In Ontario, after a wedding, the couple receives a record of solemnization, which acts as a receipt for the ceremony. This is not the same as a marriage certificate and holds no legal recognition of the marriage, but it contains the key details that will be needed to order the certificate. The officiant who performed the marriage will send the completed and signed marriage license to ServiceOntario so that the marriage can be registered. It may take up to 10 weeks to register a marriage, after which the couple can apply for a marriage certificate. There may be delays due to higher-than-normal volumes of requests.
There is no explicit mention of temporary marriage certificates in Ontario. However, the record of solemnization can be used as proof of marriage until the official marriage certificate is obtained. This record can be used to change your name, process a divorce, or as a record of family history.
To obtain a marriage certificate, the marriage must be registered in Ontario. The couple can then apply for a certified copy of the marriage registration. The status of the application will be available one business day after submission. If there are issues with the application, the couple will need to start the process again.
If there are any issues with the marriage certificate, such as incorrect information, a request can be sent to the Office of the Registrar General for a registration amendment application form. This can also be done by phone, and the form will be mailed out.
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How to apply for a marriage certificate
In Ontario, you can apply for a marriage certificate online or in person. The marriage must be registered before you can get a marriage certificate. The officiant who performed the marriage will send the completed and signed marriage license to ServiceOntario so that the marriage can be registered. It may take up to 10 weeks to register a marriage, although some sources state that it can take up to 12-16 weeks.
To apply online, download and complete the Request for Marriage Certificate application. You can check the status of your application 1 business day after submitting it. If you did not receive a payment receipt, contact ServiceOntario after 1 full business day.
To apply in person, go to the ServiceOntario centre at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto. Bring the completed Request for Marriage Certificate application and the required payment.
The parties to the marriage, children of the marriage, parents of the parties to the marriage, and legally authorized representatives acting on behalf of these individuals are entitled to apply. Authorized representatives must provide proof of authorization. If one or both parties to the marriage have died, the surviving party and next of kin may apply. Extended next of kin relationships include aunts, uncles, first cousins, grandchildren, grandparents, nephews, and nieces.
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Marriage certificate delivery methods
In Ontario, you will first receive a Record of Solemnization of Marriage from your marriage officiant. This is more like a receipt or a souvenir of your marriage and is not the same as a certified marriage certificate. You will need to wait for your marriage to be recorded by the registrar before you can apply for a marriage certificate. This can take up to 10 weeks, with some sources citing 12-16 weeks. Once your marriage is registered, you can order a marriage certificate online or in person.
Online Delivery
To order a marriage certificate online, you will need to fill out the Request for Marriage Certificate application form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar General. You can check the status of your application after 1 business day. Payment can be made via Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, or Debit Mastercard.
In-Person Delivery
To obtain a marriage certificate in person, you can visit the ServiceOntario centre at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto. Accepted payment methods include cash, money order, Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard, and Interac.
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Changing your name on identification documents
After your wedding in Ontario, you will first receive a Record of Solemnization, which is more like a receipt and holds no legal recognition of the marriage. You will need to wait for the marriage to be recorded by the registrar before you can apply for a marriage certificate, which usually takes up to 10 weeks. However, there may be delays due to higher volumes of requests or backlogs. Once you have your marriage certificate, you can use it to change your name on your identification documents.
To change your name on identification documents in Ontario after marriage, you will need to visit a ServiceOntario centre with the following documents:
- Your marriage certificate.
- Your current photo health card (if you do not have a photo health card, you must bring three original documents to prove you are a Canadian citizen and Ontario resident).
When updating your name on documents issued by other organizations, you will need to contact each organization and ask what they require to make the change. Most organizations will ask you to show a copy of your marriage certificate. You will receive your updated documents by mail within 6 to 8 weeks.
If you choose not to assume your spouse's last name after marriage and wish to legally change your name, you will need to apply for a legal name change. If you legally changed your name due to marriage and wish to resume your former surname, you can do so by completing an Election to Resume Former Surname - Form 2.
Additionally, if you were born in Ontario and have already submitted a name change application, you may choose to cancel your application and have your birth certificate reissued with your new name. You can also apply to have your new legal name on your Ontario marriage registration, which will be reflected on any marriage certificates you apply for in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
It may take up to 10 weeks to register a marriage in Ontario. After that, it takes about a week to get the certificate.
The officiant who performed the marriage will send the completed and signed marriage license to ServiceOntario so that the marriage can be registered. Once the marriage is registered, you can apply for a marriage certificate.
A record of solemnization of marriage is more like a receipt and does not hold any legal recognition of the marriage. A marriage certificate, on the other hand, is a legal document that contains the details of the marriage, including the date, place, and names of those married.
The cost of a marriage certificate in Ontario is not publicly available. However, personal cheque payments are no longer accepted at retail locations for any vital events transactions.
A marriage license in Ontario is valid for three months from the date it was issued.
