Same Sex Weddings: Legal FAQ's

Where and When can I get a Marriage License?

They are available from the City Clerk's Office, 4310 Queen St., Niagara Falls, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS. 

What are the legal requirements to marry in Ontario?

You can find complete requirements for marriage licenses from the Niagara Falls city website, Click on City Hall, then Marriage Licenses for details; special requirements apply if you have been divorced or had an annulment. There is a $100 (Canadian dollars) fee for the license, which you can use anywhere in Ontario for 90 days after it is issued.

IMPORTANT What If I Have Been Divorced?

If you have been divorced outside of Canada, you will not be granted a license until a Canadian lawyer verifies your documents.

A Canadian lawyer MUST do the footwork, send things off to Thunder Bay (Registrar General) and then you may apply for a license. The process takes at least four days. 

What if we are not Canadian?

You do not have to be a Canadian citizen to marry in Canada. There are no residency or citizenship requirements, nor are there any special requirements for same-sex couples.

Will my Canadian wedding be recognized in my home country?

In mixed-gender marriages, yes. At this time, same-sex marriages are recognized only in Canada, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands. In the US, only the state of Massachusetts recognizes same-sex marriage.

For more information:
www.niagarafalls.ca/city

Top