A Canadian Marriage Certificate is a vital record issued by a government authority that proves that the couple listed on the certificate has a legally recognized marriage. This document is used to ensure the rights of spouses and children are respected, to apply for certain social benefits, to settle an estate, to change or hyphenate a surname, to apply for a divorce, or simply to document your family history.
A Marriage Certificate is a different type of document from a Marriage Licence. Marriage Licences are issued to couples before they marry, whereas Marriage Certificates are issued as records of marriages that have already occurred.
Most people in the Northwest Territories will need to apply for a Marriage License. You can have a registration form completed by a Marriage License Issuer.
Marriage licenses are available from the Health Services Administration Unit of the Department of Health and Social Services in Inuvik, NT. You may also obtain a marriage license from a Marriage License Issuer, located in many Northern communities. For the name of the Marriage License Issuer nearest you, please call the Department at (867) 777-7422 or 1-800-661-0830 (toll-free).
There is currently a $60 fee for issuing a marriage license. Please confirm that the fee is the same when you call.
In most cases you will have to make an appointment with the Marriage License Issuer.
Both people planning on getting married must attend the appointment with the Marriage License Issuer. You will need to provide the following documents or information:
Once you have been married, the person who officiated the ceremony will send the completed marriage registration form to the Department’s Health Service Administrative Unit in Inuvik. After the marriage registration form has been received by the Department, you may apply for a Marriage Certificate.
Immediately after the marriage ceremony, the couple may receive a Record of Solemnization of Marriage from the person who performed the ceremony. This document includes the couple’s names, the date of the marriage, the names of the witnesses and whether the marriage was performed under the authority of a licence or the publication of banns. This is not a Marriage Certificate or a legal record. You still need a Marriage Certificate.
The person who performed the marriage must forward a completed and signed Marriage Licence to the provincial Vital Statistics office for registration. The marriage must be registered before you may apply for a Marriage Certificate.
Apply for a Marriage Certificate online:
Please note: Marriage Certificates are issued using the information from the original Registration of Marriage, completed at the time of Marriage. If a record cannot be found, a search for a three year period is carried out automatically and the applicant will be notified.
You may order a replacement Marriage Certificate in the same way as a first time Marriage Certificate (see above). The application form is the same for both types of orders.
Your Marriage Certificate will be sent to you directly from Northwest Territories Vital Statistics Agency. It will arrive in the mail within 10-20 business days.
You must be at least 19 years old to be married in Northwest Territories without parental consent. If you are between the ages of 16 to 18, you may marry if you have the written consent of both parents.
Short Form Marriage Certificate (wallet size):
The Short Form Marriage Certificate contains the following information: name of first party, name of second party, date of marriage, place of marriage, registration number and registration date.
Long Form Marriage Certificate (paper size 9.5 x 7”):
The Long Form Marriage Certificate contains the above information along with the following information: birthplaces of the first and second parties.
A Restricted Photocopy is a photocopy of the registration completed at the time of marriage, by the marriage officiant and the bride and groom. There is always an official raised seal and red stamp on the back stating it is a certified true copy of the original registration.
Photocopies are rarely needed by citizens and are, by law, for restricted use only. They are generally only required for genealogical, court or consulate purposes. They are not for use as identification.
Marriage Certificates are issued using the information from the original Registration of Marriage, completed at the time of marriage. If you are not certain of the date of marriage, you are required to fill out the estimated date of marriage on the Marriage Certificate application. If a record cannot be found, a search will automatically be carried out and the applicant will be notified.
Yes. You must have an original government issued Marriage Certificate or Certified Copy of Marriage Registration to apply for a divorce in Canada. The certificate you received at the church (or any other place you were married) will not be accepted by the Divorce Registry.
Short Form Marriage Certificate: $45.00
Long Form Marriage Certificate: $45.00
Restricted Photocopy: $55.00
The only payment currently accepted is credit card (Visa and MasterCard).
Given that you have correctly filled out all sections on the application, you will receive your marriage certificate(s) within approximately 10-20 business days (includes mailing time).
Bill C-38 codifies a definition of marriage for the first time in Canadian law, expanding on the traditional common-law understanding of civil marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution. Bill C-38 redefines civil marriage as “the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others,” thus extending civil marriage to conjugal couples of the same sex.
Bill C-38 was passed by the Senate on July 19, 2005, by a vote of 47-21. The Civil Marriage Act then came into effect with Royal Assent on July 20, 2005, as Chapter 33 of the Statutes of Canada. With its enactment, Canada became the fourth country to legislate same-sex marriage, the others being the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003) and Spain (2005).
Federal vs. Provincial Jurisdiction
There is some confusion about the roles of different levels of government involved in the marriage issue.
The federal government can pass legislation to define marriage and to set out who can marry whom, which means that a Province must recognize any marriage that is valid in Canada.
Although Provinces do not have the freedom to choose which marriages may be solemnized, they are required to provide a process by which people can be married. This means that provincial governments must provide a process for the solemnization of same-sex marriages.
If you are following up on the status of an already ordered certificate, as the applicant, you will need to contact the government agency directly. They will only discuss the status of the application with the applicant. Please contact Northwest Territories Vital Statistics at:
Toll Free: 1-800-661-0830
Telephone: 867-777-7400
You can apply for a Northwest Territories Marriage Certificate if you are:
No. Changing a last name upon marriage is a custom only and it has never been a legal requirement. When you get married, there are several options available to you. You may keep your own last name, you may take your husband’s name, or combine both of your last names into a hyphenated last name.
It is also possible to use your husband’s last name for social purposes while continuing to use your own last name for legal purposes, such as your passport, bank accounts, driver’s licence and so on. The important thing is that you must not use both names in an attempt to defraud someone.
The benefit of assuming a married name instead of doing a legal name change is that it does not change your last name on your Marriage Certificate. Later, if you wish to use your own last name again, it is already on your Marriage Certificate and you won’t have to pay to change it back.
If you do decide to use your husband’s last name, it is not necessary to inform the Department of Vital Statistics. However, you will have to arrange to have all your personal documents changed to reflect your new name. You should contact your bank to arrange to change your name on your accounts, credit cards and banking cards, and the federal government to deal with documents such as your social insurance number and passport. Your driver’s licence should also be changed. Do not forget such important documents as insurance policies and your health care number. Note also that marriage automatically invalidates a will, unless the will specifically mentions that it has been made with an upcoming marriage in mind. You should make a new will immediately after marriage.
Yes. You may marry in a foreign country as long as you meet all the requirements of the authority responsible for marriage in the country where you want to get married. If you are getting married overseas, most countries will require a statement in-lieu of certification of non-impediment to marriage abroad. You can apply for one by mail to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Authentication and Service of Documents section before your departure. If you are already abroad, you may obtain a “Statement in lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment” from the nearest Canadian government office abroad.
Additional information regarding marriage in a foreign country is available on the Canadian Consular Affairs website.
Please note, only marriages that took place in Northwest Territories are registered by Northwest Territories Vital Statistics. Your marriage will be registered in the country where it took place as long as you met all the local requirements. Your Marriage Certificate, issued by the country’s authority responsible for marriage, is proof of your marital status.
No. There are certain procedures that must be followed before a non-Canadian citizen can reside in Canada. For more information, see the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Marriages in Canada can be either civil or religious. Marriages may be performed by members of the clergy, marriage commissioners, judges, justices of the peace or clerks of the court.
© 2022 Vital Statistics Support. All Rights Reserved