Marriage

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)                                                           

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 ServiceOntario .

AS VICTORIA HALL IS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. WE ARE OFFERING IN PERSON APPOINTMENTS FOR MARRIAGE LICENCES.

PLEASE CALL 905-372-4301, Extension 4205 OR EMAIL WEDDINGS@COBOURG.CA TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT.

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.  DURING THIS TIME WE PREFER ONLY ONE APPLICANT TO APPEAR FOR THE LICENCE PROCESSING.
3. Bring in your original identification (see Supporting Identification Documents).
4. Bring in your Divorce document, if applicable. We need to see an original (with seal) or court certified copy, of the Decree Absolute or Certificate of Divorce. We cannot accept Divorce Judgements.
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. CREDIT CARDS AND DEBIT 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.

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.

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

Please note, during this Pandemic, Legislative Services has now relocated our Civil Marriage Ceremonies to our Market Building. Prior to entry into the Building, all guests will be required to complete and sign a COVID-19 Screening Form and wear a facial covering, as per local Health Department Regulations.

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.

Ceremonies at the Municipal Office are available:

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

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

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

You can inquire about Civil Ceremonies by calling us at 905-372-4301.

CEREMONY DATES CANNOT BE CONFIRMED UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE SIGNED AGREEMENT ALONG WITH PAYMENT IN FULL AND APPROVAL OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.

Civil Ceremony Fees

The Fee for a Civil Marriage Ceremony at our Municipal Offices is $300.00.

Payable by cash, cheque or debit. CREDIT AND/OR DEBIT 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 and Cancellations: There is no fee for any changes to your wedding date, but a new date is subject to availability and within ninety (90) days of the date of issue on the Marriage Licence. If you would have to cancel or change a wedding date, please call the Legislative Services Office and 905-372-4301.

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.

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 Bailey Court Room.

Please note at this time Civil Marriage Ceremonies will be limited to five (5) persons, inclusive of the couple to be married, two witnesses, and our Officiant.

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.

Please note at this time, as per local Health Department Regulations, live music is not permitted without the required barriers and previous approval by Legislative Services.