Marriage licences
Due to closure of City Hall starting December 24, 2020, marriage licences will not be issued after this date.
The City of Peterborough issues marriage licences Monday to Friday by appointment in the Clerk's Office. The process takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Preference is given to couples from the City of Peterborough.
Fee: $135.00 (payment by debit, Visa or MasterCard preferred; cash is accepted).
A marriage licence can only be issued to the applicants named in the application. Both parties must sign the Marriage Licence Application Form, but only one person needs to be present in order to get the licence. That person will need to bring identity documents for both parties.
The date and place of the ceremony must be noted on the application in order for the licence to be issued. A marriage licence is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued and can be used anywhere in Ontario.
Steps involved in getting a marriage licence:
1. Complete and submit the application online. Print and have both parties sign. Marriage licences will NOT be issued starting December 24, 2020.
2. Send pictures of all identification (see below) as well as required divorce documents to marriage@peterborough.ca. Please note that we need to be able to read the information in the pictures.
3. Book an appointment time (call us at 705-742-7777 ext. 1820).
4. We will call you to confirm your appointment once we have reviewed your application and documents.
5. Come to City Hall for your appointment through the front doors at 500 George St. N. Make sure to bring all original documents – the original signed application, original identification for both you and your partner, and all original divorce documents (if applicable). Payment by debit or credit card is preferred.
| Identification | ||||
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Two pieces of original identification are required for each applicant; photocopies will not be accepted. One piece of identification must establish proof of identity and the second piece must be photo identification.
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| Interpreter | ||||
| If you do not understand or read English, you must provide your own interpreter. The interpreter must also present two pieces of identification (one photo identification, one other) and sign an affidavit of interpreter. | ||||
| Under 18 | ||||
| The minimum age to get married in Ontario is 16. However, anyone under the age of 18 must have parental consent. Parents must sign a Consent of Parent or Guardian to Marriage form and provide photo identification. Consent forms are available at the Clerks Office. | ||||
| If you are previously divorced | ||||
| Divorce in Canada: If any party to the marriage has a previous Canadian divorce, the original Certificate of Divorce must be presented. This certificate can be obtained from the courthouse where the divorce was granted. No photocopies will be accepted. If you need further information, please call our office at 705-742-7777 ext. 1820.
Divorce outside of Canada: If there is a previous divorce that was granted outside of Canada, you will need to obtain approval of the foreign divorce certificate from the Office of the Registrar General in Thunder Bay. An application package must be completed and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar General. The Foreign Divorce Office requires a minimum of four weeks to process the application. |
Marriage certificates
Marriage certificates are records of your marriage. They are issued by the Registrar General.
To get a marriage certificate or more information visit the Service Ontario web page.
Marriage ceremonies at City Hall
The fee for the ceremony is $325.00 + HST payable by cash, debit, Visa or Master Card at the time of booking. Please contact the City Clerk's office at 705-742-7777 ext. 1820 for further information.
In order to marry you must obtain your marriage licence and provide it to the officiant prior to your wedding day.
| Marriage ceremony details |
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We are currently not booking wedding ceremonies for 2021. If the situation changes updates will be provided on our website. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the City of Peterborough has made changes to the way in which Civil Marriage Ceremonies are performed at City Hall. This has been done to ensure the health and safety of you, your guests and employees of the City. Couples will discuss arrangements with their officiant one to two weeks prior to the ceremony date. This meeting will occur by phone or other electronic means. The purpose of this meeting is to confirm arrangements and review procedures. Attendees that are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, such as fever, shortness of breath, chills, unexplained fatigue, decrease or loss of sense of smell or taste or pink eye, or those that have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days will not be permitted inside the building. To adhere to Provincial requirements in Stage 3 of reopening, we are limiting the number of guests to a maximum of 12 people. This number does not include the officiant or the wedding couple. We require individuals to maintain social distancing of two metres (six feet) from individuals outside of their social bubble at all times. The chairs in the Chambers have been spaced apart to assist with social distancing. We have also added markings on the floor to indicate where the wedding couple and officiant are to remain during the ceremony. All attendees including the wedding couple must arrive at the doors between the main City Hall building and the Carnegie Wing (red brick building) facing George Street. The officiant will proceed to the entrance five minutes prior to ceremony start time and bring the entire wedding group up to the Council Chambers. Attendees will be asked to maintain social distancing and to wear masks or face coverings. Late arrivals will not be admitted. To ensure sufficient time for cleaning and disinfecting procedures between ceremonies, ceremonies must start promptly at the scheduled time. The Council Chambers are available for 30 minutes in total. After the ceremony is completed your officiant will bring your party to the doors between the main City Hall building and the Carnegie Wing (red brick building). Photos will not be permitted in the lobby or other locations in City Hall and all individuals must leave the building upon reaching the entrance. Wedding couples must ensure that their guests are aware of these procedures and the strict timelines. We understand that this is an important day for you and your families, and we appreciate your co-operation. We look forward to being part of your special day! |
| Marriage Policy |
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The marriage policy must be read and then printed and signed by both members of the wedding couple. This document when signed needs to be sent to marriage@peterborough.ca. |
| Wedding Procedures on your Wedding Day |
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Wedding Procedures at City Hall
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