General Topics and Information - Halton Region

Marriage Services - Civil Wedding Ceremonies and Marriage Officiants

Description

This listing gives an overview of laws related to celebrants for marriage services, and how to find officiants and civil wedding services

for additional information, including age minimums and forms, see Government of Ontario website here

Who Can Perform a Marriage in Ontario:

Only those authorized under Ontario's Marriage Act can perform a marriage as a marriage officiant

There are two categories of marriage officiants in Ontario:

Registered marriage officiants:

a person duly recognized by their religious body as entitled to perform religious marriages in Ontario
a person who belongs to, and is duly recognized as entitled to perform marriages by a band, First Nation, Métis or Inuit organization or community or Indigenous entity located in whole or in part in Ontario
to see if a person is registered with the Office of the Registrar General, see Government of Ontario website here

Civil marriage officiants:

a municipal clerk and/or their delegate authorized to perform civil marriages in Ontario
a judge
an Ontario associate judge
an Ontario justice of the peace

Marriage Licences:
Can be purchased from all city halls, town halls or municipal offices

for information on required documentation, see Government of Ontario website here, or contact local municipal offices
a marriage licence is valid for 3 months from the date it was issued

Civil Ceremonies at Municipal Offices (Town and City Halls):
Only some municipal offices perform civil marriage ceremonies

in the Halton area, these include Oakville, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Mississauga, and Brampton
municipal offices in Burlington or Milton do not perform civil marriage ceremonies, however they can issue marriage licences

Eligibility

Varies by program

Application Process

Varies by program