Marriages Licences and Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The following are the steps to obtaining a marriage licence:

1. Review the marriage licence requirements (see next FAQ below).
2. Do one of the following to complete the application:
   1. apply online;
   2. download and print an application; or
   3. visit City Hall to obtain a paper copy of the application.
      Note: the application will take 25-30 minutes to complete and both applicants must provide their required information.
3. Schedule an appointment to have the licence issued to you.  If you are completing an online application, you will be able to book an appointment as part of the application process.  If you are completing a paper application, please contact the Licensing & Marriage Coordinator at 519-376-1440 ext, 1268 or weddingservices@owensound.ca to book your appointment.
4. Attend your appointment and pay the required fee.  Note: if only one applicant can attend the appointment, you must bring identification for both applicants.

To issue a marriage licence we will require:

1. A completed marriage licence application submitted via the online portal (coming soon) or in person at City Hall. 
2. Two current pieces of identification for each applicant with at least one for each applicant having a photo (see "What are the identification requirements?" below).
3. Original divorce documents or death documents, if applicable.

Information required to complete your marriage licence application includes:

• The proposed date of your marriage, which must be within 3 months of the date you submit your application
• The proposed place of marriage (city/town/reserve)
• The names, dates of birth, provinces/territories of birth, countries of birth (as it was known at the time of the birth, even if it is not longer used), addresses and contact information for both applicants
• The marital status of each applicant
• Divorce certificates are required for those who have been previously married
• Death certificates are required for those who are widowed
• The names and countries of birth (country name as it was known when parent was born) for each applicant's parent(s)
• Two pieces of government-issued identification, with at least one being a photo identification, for each applicant (four total)

1. Each partner must submit two (2) pieces of government-issued identification including one with a photo.
2. The identification must be VALID and ORIGINAL (photocopies cannot be accepted).
3. The name on both pieces of identification must be the same.
4. If your identification is not in English, a written translation and affidavit from a certified translator is required.

The fee for a marriage licence is $150.00.

The fee is non-refundable.

Payment can be made by cash, debit, credit or cheque made out to the City of Owen Sound.

Divorced in Canada:

You will need to provide one of the following original documents to the municipality:

• the final decree (divorce or annulment)
• the final judgment (divorce or annulment)
• a certificate of divorce

Divorced outside of Canada:

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married.  This process can take up to four weeks.  Refer to the Service Ontario website for required documents to obtain a Foreign Divorce Authorization.

Widowed:

You will need to provide the following original documents to the municipality:

• Death Certificate of spouse
• Funeral Director's Statement of Death
• Court order declaring that your spouse has died

The couple will give the marriage licence to the person (religious official/civil wedding officiant) who is performing the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, the person who performed the wedding will send the completed licence to the province of Ontario to register the marriage.