Marriages

Congratulations on Your Upcoming Wedding!

Marriage licences are issued at the Municipal Office, located at 66 Front Street South, Campbellford, during regular office hours.

Appointment Booking
Appointments are required to obtain a marriage licence. To schedule your appointment, please email marriages@trenthills.ca or call 705-653-1900.

Application Requirements
Applicants must complete the Marriage Licence Application form and present two pieces of original, valid government-issued identification at the appointment. Photocopies, scanned copies, or expired identification will not be accepted.

If only one applicant is attending the appointment, the attending individual must also bring the original identification of the joint applicant.

Licence Validity
A marriage licence is valid for use anywhere within the Province of Ontario for a period of 90 days from the date of issuance.

Important Note
The date and location of your planned marriage ceremony must be confirmed prior to processing your marriage licence application.

For further details, please visit: Service Ontario: Getting Married in Ontario.

The Municipality of Trent Hills issues the Marriage Licences from the municipal office located at 66 Front Street South, Campbellford.

Call 705-653-1900 or email marriages@trenthills.ca to book your Marriage Licence appointment.

The cost of a Marriage Licence is $175.00 (HST exempt), as outlined in the current Fees and Charges By-law.

Accepted Payment Methods:

• Cash
• Cheque (payable to the Municipality of Trent Hills)
• Debit

Please Note: Credit card payments are not accepted.

Divorced in Canada

If either applicant was previously married in Canada, an original or court-certified copy of the Canadian Certificate of Divorce (or Decree Absolute) is required. Certified copies can be obtained from the court where the divorce was granted. For further assistance, please contact the Office of the Registrar General or the court office where the divorce was finalized. Photocopies, divorce judgments, and divorce orders are not acceptable.

Divorced Outside of Canada

Applicants who were divorced outside of Canada must provide specific documentation to confirm their marital status. These documents must be validated by the government, a process that may take up to four weeks.

The required documents should be sent to:
    ServiceOntario
    Office of the Registrar General
    Attention: Marriage Office
    PO Box 4600, 189 Red River Road
    Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L8

Required Documentation:

1. Marriage Licence Application Form – Completed and signed.
2. Statement of Sole Responsibility – For each divorce, this must be signed by both applicants and a witness.
3. Legal Opinion Letter – Issued by an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both applicants, explaining why the foreign divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario.
4. Divorce Decree or Annulment – An original or court-certified copy in English or French. If the document is in another language, include:
   • A translated copy, and
   • An affidavit sworn by a certified translator.

Important Note:
Completed Foreign Divorce Authorizations are sent to applicants by courier. To ensure delivery, include your complete mailing address on the marriage licence application form. Incomplete addresses may result in the package being returned to ServiceOntario.

The completed Foreign Divorce Authorization is then provided to the Municipal Office along with the Marriage Licence Application form, and valid identification to obtain a marriage licence.

If you or your partner are remarrying following the death of a spouse, you must provide one of the following documents for each applicable applicant:

• Death Certificate of the Deceased Spouse
• Funeral Director's Statement of Death
• Court Order Declaring the Death of the Spouse

These documents may be electronically uploaded as part of your application or presented in person to the municipality during your appointment.

A "Record of Solemnization of Marriage" will be given to you after your ceremony; this is not a marriage certificate or legal record, but a souvenir of the marriage. The Officiant who performs the marriage will send the signed marriage licence to ServiceOntario for registration. Approximately 8 – 10 weeks after your ceremony you may apply to the Office of the Registrar General (online through ServiceOntario), to obtain your official Certificate of Marriage, the official legal record of your marriage. You may apply online at www.serviceontario.ca . 

Please note that your Marriage Certificate is NOT automatically sent to you by the Registrar General.

Why might you need a marriage certificate? 

• show legal proof you are married
• apply for certain social benefits
• settle an estate
• change a last name

Only an authorized official can marry you, in order to ensure that the marriage is legal in the Province of Ontario.  There are 2 types of marriage ceremonies which may be performed in Ontario; a religious marriage performed by a recognized religious official; and a civil marriage performed by a judge, justice of the peace or authorized municipal clerk, often at a local municipal office or city hall.

ServiceOntario offers a resource entitled "Before You Get Married", and the ServiceOntario website houses material to ensure accurate information is provided to couples.

It is important to ensure that your marriage is performed properly and legally. You are encouraged to check that the person performing your marriage ceremony is an authorized official. A list of Religious Officials Authorized to Solemnize Marriage can be found on the ServiceOntario website, or call ServiceOntario at 1-800-461-2156 for more information.

 A maximum of 20 guests plus the wedding party (wedding couple plus 2 witnesses) can be accommodated in the Council Chambers.

Marriage solemnization services are available through the Municipality at several locations and times to accommodate couples’ needs.

• Ceremonies held during regular hours in the Council Chambers are available for a fee of $400.
• Couples who prefer another location within Trent Hills may request an alternate venue, subject to the Clerk’s approval, for a fee of $450.
• After-hours ceremonies can also be arranged in the Council Chambers for $500.
• Alternatively, after-hours ceremonies at another location within Trent Hills may be approved by the Clerk for a fee of $550.

All alternate locations must receive prior approval from the Clerk’s office. 

The ceremony fee does not include the Marriage Licence fee ($175.00 Tax Exempt).

The Marriage Ceremony lasts approximately twenty (20) minutes. Plan to arrive fifteen (15) minutes prior to the Ceremony to allow time for review of final details. Late arrival of the applicants for the scheduled Ceremony may result in the Officiate not performing the ceremony, and the service may be required to be rescheduled to another date.

Minimal decorations are permitted (e.g. flowers, balloons). They may be placed fifteen (15) minutes prior to the Ceremony and removed within fifteen (15) minutes of its conclusion.

Use of decorations that are to be affixed to walls or furniture (i.e. tape, staples, nails, etc.) is not permitted.

No confetti, rice, bubbles, candles, etc. are allowed in the Municipal Offices or grounds.

Yes. Pictures and videos may be taken, provided they do not disrupt the ceremony. A photographer and videographer are not provided.The Council Chamber has WiFi, and you may connect to a video call.

To maintain the dignity of the Ceremony, clothing should be appropriate for the occasion.

The Municipality provides a non-religious ceremony that reflect the couple's choices and desires. All elements of the ceremony are thoroughly discussed with the couple in the pre-ceremony consultation. Remember, this is your day and you get to choose how you want it celebrated!

Wedding rings are not a requirement for a marriage celebration.

Yes. Please provide the completed licence and valid photo identification to the Clerk’s Office to verify your marriage licence prior to your ceremony. 

Yes. All you require is a valid Ontario marriage licence. If you obtained a marriage licence from another municipality, please provide the completed licence and valid photo identification to the Clerk’s Office when booking your civil ceremony.

An authorized official must marry you to ensure the marriage is performed properly and legally.

There are two (2) types of marriage ceremonies performed in Ontario; 

• Religious marriage: a recognized religious official marries you, and
• Civil marriage: a judge, justice of the peace or authorized municipal clerk marries you, often at a local municipal office or city hall.

A request for a Civil Marriage Ceremony is to be received a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the date of the Ceremony.

Changes to date and/or time are permitted at no additional charge, provided the location and Officiate are available. An administration fee of $75.00 will be applied should the Ceremony be cancelled prior to the scheduled date. No refund will be issued if the Ceremony is cancelled on the day of the Ceremony, or the Applicant(s) fail to appear for the Ceremony.

Two witnesses must be present during the ceremony; they can be family or friends. If you wish to have Municipal staff act as a witness, there is a fee of $25.00 per witness.

You may expand upon the required vows by reading your own personal non-religious vows to one another. In addition, you may choose to include non-religious readings of your choice throughout the ceremony.

 Music may be played; Please arrange for this during the pre-ceremony appointment.

A pre-ceremony meeting is required (approximately thirty (30) minutes):

1. To be scheduled for at least five (5) days prior to the ceremony;
2. Both parties must be in attendance and provide photo identification (i.e. driver’s licence);
3. Bring completed Application for a Civil Marriage Ceremony;
4. If specific vows are to be included, please provide a written copy; an;
5. A valid Marriage Licence issued in the Province of Ontario is to be presented (date issued must be within three (3) months of ceremony).

*If a pre-ceremony meeting does not occur, a valid Marriage Licence issued in the Province of Ontario must be delivered to the Legislative Services Department at least five (5) business days prior to the ceremony.

Following the Ceremony, you will receive a "Record of Solemnization of Marriage"; this is not a marriage certificate.  Approximately eight (8) weeks after the ceremony, you may apply to the Office of the Registrar General to obtain an official Certificate of Marriage. The appropriate form is included with the Marriage Licence.

A marriage certificate is the legal record of a marriage. It lists the date and place of the marriage, and names of the people who were married.

• You need this document to:
•  show legal proof you are married
• apply for certain social benefits
• settle an estate
• change a last name

When you get married, you don't have to legally change your last name (surname). But if you choose to legally change your last name, you can do so through ServiceOntario.