Marrying After Divorce or Being Widowed

If either you or your partner have been married (or in a union) before, you will need to demonstrate that your previous marriage or union ended in divorce or death.


WHEN YOU APPLY for your license, bring with you:

• Your original Certificate of Marriage
• Information on getting your Certificate of Marriage
• Certified Death Certificate 
• Visit Our Sister Site on Death in Canada
• Proof of divorce or dissolution of union (court certified copies)
• Absolute Decree 
• judgement of dissolution from original court
• Certificate of Divorce
  Visit Our Sister Site on Divorce in Canada
• Contact the courthouse where you got divorced
• If you cannot find your records contact the
  Central Divorce Registry of Canada
  P.O. Box 2730, Station D
  Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1W7
  Phone: 613-957-4519  

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The only way out of a marriage is divorce
• Original or certified documents only (your papers will be returned to you)
• If the original documents are in a language other than English, (English or French in Quebec) a certified translation into English is needed
• Vital Statistics (the office that takes care of your marriage documents) does not keep a register of divorces

BY-PROVINCE (WIDOW OR WIDOWER)

•  Manitoba: either a 
• Certificate of Death or
• Funeral Home Statement of Death or
• obituary clipping from the newspaper (showing date of issue)
• Saskatchewan: only requires the date and place of death

BY-PROVINCE (DIVORCE)

• Newfoundland-Labrador/ Prince Edward Island
• If divorced outside of Canada (and the documents are in a different language) you need to include a certified letter from a practicing lawyer in the province you apply, stating your are eligible to get married
• Ontario
• If you were married & divorced in another country you need authorization for a marriage license from the Minister of consumer & Business Services
• Must send the Office of the Register General: 
• completed & signed Marriage License
• Statement of Sole Responsibility form for each divorce (signed by each of you) This form acknowledges the Ontario courts may still not recognize your previous divorce(s) and therefore your eligibility to get married
• Document of proof from your divorce (Certificate of Divorce, Absolute Decree or original court judgement of dissolution)
• A legal opinion from an Ontario lawyer, why the divorce/ annulment etc. should be recognized and you should be eligible to marry