Marriage

Licence expiry and cancellation

Notes from Registrar General and Service Ontario

Validity Period

Extending the expiry date in response to COVID-19

Service Ontario has extended the expiry date for most Marriage Licences. Licences are still valid for the timeframes below, unless you require a replacement Licence.

Extended Validity Periods

The third province-wide emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act declared on April 7, 2021 ended at 11:59 pm on June 3, 2021. As such the first day following the end of the emergency is June 4, 2021.
The following are the extended validity periods:

• Licences issued between December 1, 2019 and July 24, 2020 are still valid and can be used until July 24, 2022;
• Licences issued between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 are still valid and can be used until February 10, 2023; and
• Licences issued between January 1, 2021 and June 4, 2021 are still valid and can be used until June 4, 2023.

Note: The validity period for foreign divorce authorizations issued by the Office of the Registrar General has also been extended for the same duration as the extended Marriage Licence validity periods noted above.

Replacement licenses 

Replacement licenses are only necessary in the rare instances where couples may have lost or destroyed their unused Marriage Licence or critical information on the Licence is no longer accurate.

Couples who either purchased a Licence that has expired or who may require a replacement Licence should contact ServiceOntario.ca/GettingMarried for further details.

How to get a Marriage Licence Application Form

Congratulations, you are Getting Married!

To make it legal you will need a valid Ontario Marriage Licence before your civil or religious marriage ceremony. You can purchase your Marriage Licence from the Town of Cobourg or another Ontario municipality with the authority to issue Marriage Licences. A Marriage Licence is valid for marriages taking place in Ontario and expires ninety (90) days from the date of issue.

Marriage Licence Application:

• Online from ServiceOntario (including general information on marriages)                                            
• Online from the Town of Cobourg Website                                                                                
• In person at the Municipal Office (55 King Street West, Cobourg)                                                           

How to get a Marriage Licence

We provide a same day service for obtaining your Marriage Licence, providing all your documents are in order. To get your Licence you will need to complete a hard copy of the Marriage Licence Application Form from Service Ontario. 

Both you and your partner will need to sign the Marriage Licence Application Form and submit a hard copy of completed and signed form to our Legislative Services Department at Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg. Below outlines the process for attaining a Marriage Licence:

1. Read the Requirements Respecting Marriage in Ontario
2. Complete the Marriage Licence Application Form, including signatures of both applicants. Both applicants can come in but only one applicant is required to bring in the signed form, identification and documents for both applicants.  
3. Bring in your original identification (see Supporting Identification Documents).
4. Bring in your Divorce document, if applicable. We need to see an original certificate of divorce. We cannot accept Divorce Judgements OR Orders.
5. For divorces granted outside of Canada, please read the Foreign Divorce process.
6. Licence Processing Hours: Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
7. Licence Fee: $125 Payable by cash or debit. CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.

Supporting Identification Documents

Two (2) pieces of original and current government issued identification for each person getting married. One piece of identification must include your photo.

The first piece of identification must be one of the following:

• Birth Certificate

• Passport

 
The second piece of identification must be government issued photo identification, which can be one of the following:

• Birth Certificate

• Passport

• Driver’s Licence

• Ontario Photo Card (Purple photo ID card)

• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (Canadian Citizenship Card)

• Canadian Government Refugee Travel Document

• Native Status Card

• Record of Immigration Landing

• Confirmation of Permanent Residency / Permanent Residency Card

• Citizenship Card

• Nexus Card

• Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC)    

• Any other Canadian government issued photo I.D. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT HEALTH CARDS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AS PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.

*If the primary piece of identification is a birth certificate the secondary piece of identification must contain a photo.   

If you have any questions regarding acceptable identification, please contact the Legislative Services Department at 905-372-4301, Ext 4400.

Proof of Marriage/Name Change

You will need to apply for a Marriage Certificate if you need to provide proof of marriage or if you are changing your name. The Marriage Certificate can take up to twelve (12) weeks to process. You can apply for a Marriage Certificate:

• Online at Service Ontario.

Civil Ceremony Marriage Services

The Municipal Clerk's Department offers Civil Marriage Ceremonies to couples who want to have a short (ten to fifteen minute) simple, non-religious marriage ceremony within the Town of Cobourg's nationally significant and very unique heritage Victoria Hall Court Room.

Booking your Civil Marriage Ceremony

Our Marriage Officiant is available to officiate your Ceremony at our Municipal Office, in one of our several Ceremony Locations in Victoria Hall. The location is determined by the Clerk's Office and may change from time to time. Specific locations can be requested but not guaranteed.

Applicants will have to call 905-372-4301, Extension 4400 or email weddings@cobourg.ca to make an appointment for a Civil Marriage Ceremony.  

Ceremonies at the Municipal Office are available:

• Friday Afternoons 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.  

Couples must provide:

1. their Marriage Licence, a minimum of ten (10) days before the Ceremony date
2. Photo Identification, if you have obtained your Marriage Licence at another Municipality

3. their completed and signed Civil Marriage Ceremony Agreement,

4. any special requests or announcements to be made at their Ceremony

5. full payment 

Couples also require two (2) witnesses for their Ceremony, along with an interpreter if either party does not speak English and/or requires language assistance.  

You can inquire about Civil Ceremonies by calling us at 905-372-4301, Ext 4400 or e-mail weddings@cobourg.ca

CEREMONY DATES CANNOT BE CONFIRMED UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE SIGNED AGREEMENT ALONG WITH PAYMENT IN FULL.

Please note you do not have to have a Marriage Licence prior to booking a Civil Marriage Ceremony; however, you are required to provide one a minimum of ten (10) days before the Ceremony date.

Civil Ceremony Fees

The Fee for a Civil Marriage Ceremony at our Municipal Offices is $300.00 (including a $100 nonrefundable cancellation fee).

Payable by cash or debit. CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.

This fee must be paid at the time of booking and all fees are subject to the Town of Cobourg Fees and Charges By-law.

Changes:  There is no fee for any changes to your wedding date, but a new date is subject to availability and must be within ninety (90) days of the date of issue on the Marriage Licence. If you would have to change a wedding date, please call the Legislative Services Office and 905-372-4301, Ext 4400.

Cancellations: Your $300 Ceremony Fee includes a $100 nonrefundable cancellation fee. If you would have to cancel a wedding date, please call the Legislative Services Office and 905-372-4301, Ext 4400.

Civil Ceremony FAQs

For all your Civil Marriage Ceremony and Marriage Licence questions, we've got the answers.

When should I purchase my Marriage Licence?

An Ontario Marriage Licence is valid for ninety (90) days after the issue date. For our Civil Marriage Ceremonies, we require the couple's Marriage Licence, a minimum of ten (10) days before the Ceremony date.

Please note you do not have to have a Marriage Licence prior to booking a Civil Marriage Ceremony; however, you are required to provide one a minimum of ten (10) days before the Ceremony date.

How many guests may I have?

For marriage ceremonies at our Municipal Offices you may have as many guest as you want as long as each ceremony is complying with the occupancy load of each location. The amount of guests can be up to 118 persons in the Victoria Hall Court Room.

Please note at this time Civil Marriage Ceremonies will be limited to twenty (20) persons, inclusive of the couple to be married, two witnesses, our Officiant, and up to fifteen (15) guests.

How many witnesses need to be present?

In order to legalize your marriage, two witnesses must be present during the ceremony. 

Please note at this time, the Town of Cobourg is unable to provide witnesses for Civil Marriage Ceremonies. Couples will be required to provide their own two witnesses for their Ceremony.

How old do my witnesses need to be?

Although there is no minimum age for a witness, it is suggested that they should be at least 14-years of age and should be able to understand and appreciate what is happening and to be able to give evidence of such at a later date if required. 
Please note at this time, the Town of Cobourg is unable to provide witnesses for Civil Marriage Ceremonies. Couples will be required to provide their own two witnesses for their Ceremony.

Can we play music during the ceremony?

Yes! The playing of music at the ceremony is encouraged, but the couple must supply a music player and the recorded music.