Marriage Licence and Civil Marriage Ceremonies

Marriage Services Information

• Requirements to Obtain a Marriage Licence

  ​​​​​Congratulations on your Upcoming Wedding! 

  Marriage licences are issued through the Clerks Division at the municipal office located at 2585 King Road, King City, during regular office hours. 

  Appointments are required and may be booked by clicking on the 'Book an Appointment' button above or emailing marriage@king.ca.  

  Applicants must complete an online marriage licence application through ServiceOntario by clicking on 'Apply for a Marriage Licence' above. If you do not upload two pieces of valid, government issued identification to the ServiceOntario portal, you will be required to bring two pieces of original valid government issued identification to the appointment (photocopies or scanned documents are not accepted). Important: ID must be in English or a certified translation must be provided. If only one applicant is attending the appointment and you have not uploaded ID, please ensure you bring the joint applicant's identification to the appointment.  A Marriage Licence is valid for use anywhere in the Province of Ontario for a period of 90 days from the date of issuance, and is non-refundable. 

  It is essential for you to know the date and location of where you plan to get married  in order to process the marriage licence. 

  Service Ontario: Getting Married in Ontario

  Requirements to Obtain a Marriage Licence:

  • At least one applicant to the proposed marriage must apply in person.
  • The completed Marriage Licence Application.
  • Please ensure that all sections of the application are complete.
  • Any person who is at least 18 years of age may marry.
  • Applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age are required to submit a completed Consent of Parent or Guardian to Marriage Form signed by both parents (or legal guardians)  when making application for a marriage licence. 

  • Two (2) original valid pieces of government-issued identification must be shown at the appointment for both applicants. Please note: S.I.N cards and health cards are not accepted.  We will not accept photocopies or scanned documents.  Identification may be from any country, as long as it is government issued, original, valid and includes the English translation.   

  • Documents presented in a language other than English must be supported by a translation by an authorized translation service.

  Two pieces of original valid government issued identification must be provided, one of which must be photo identification. ​

  Acceptable Identification:  ​Birth Certificate (including any change of name certificate);   Current Passport; Driver's Licence  Ontario Photo Card (purple photo ID card);  Permanent Residency Card;  Nexus Card Record of Immigrant Landing Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (Canadian Citizenship Card) Native Status Card Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) Possession & Acquisition Licence (PAL)

   

• Fees for 2025

  • Marriage Licence (King Township resident):​ $192.00 (tax exempt) 
  • Marriage Licence (non-King resident): $225.00 (tax exempt)
  • Civil Marriage Ceremony Municipal Centre (King Township resident): $325.00 (tax exempt)
  • Civil Marriage Ceremony Municipal Centre (non-King resident): $475.00 (tax exempt)

  Please refer to Township of King By-law 2024-096, Schedule "B" for a complete list of fees and charges. 

   

• Previously Married?

  If you or your partner were previously married, we require the original or court certified copy of the Canadian Certificate of Divorce (or Decree Absolute).  Certified copies are available from the court that granted the divorce. Please contact the Office of the Registrar General for more information. 

  If you or your partner are remarrying after the death of a spouse, one of the following is required:

  You can electronically upload one of the following for each applicant, as applicable, alongside your application or provide in-person to the municipality:

  • Death Certificate of spouse
  • Funeral Director's Statement of Death
  • Court order declaring that your spouse has died
• Foreign Divorce?

  If your divorce was granted outside of Canada, you must apply for a foreign divorce authorization through ServiceOntario. Please contact the Office of the Registrar General for more information regarding requirements for obtaining a foreign divorce authorization, prior to applying for an Ontario Marriage Licence. Please allow for processing time at ServiceOntario.

  If the foreign decree is in a language other than English, a certified translation must also be provided.​

• Civil Marriage Ceremonies

   

  Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Non-denominational civil marriage ceremonies are performed at the King Township Municipal Centre on Fridays between the hours of 12:00 pm and 3:00 p.m. Civil Ceremonies are performed within the Council Chambers for limited numbers of guests, and are typically 15 - 20 minutes in duration.  Your ceremony booking allows you access to the Chambers for 45 minutes. 

  Both applicants must attend a mandatory pre-consultation meeting with the Marriage Officiant  at least one week prior to the ceremony. Contact the Clerks Division at 905-833-4069 or marriage@king.ca  for availability of dates. 

  Ceremonies are performed in English.  You must arrange for an interpreter if you need one. 

  Please Note: If you have had a religious, informal, spiritual or symbolic ceremony performed, in any country, a marriage licence cannot be issued as you are considered married. 

  Pre-consultation Meeting

  Prior to your civil ceremony both you and your partner will be required to attend a 30 minute pre-consultation meeting with your Officiant.  Please bring the following and be prepared to discuss the following at the pre-consultation meeting:

  •     Presentation of your valid Ontario Marriage License (issued within 90 days of  the ceremony date)
    • Presentation of original, valid photo identification for both partners
    • Payment of the civil ceremony fee
    • Tour of the Council Chambers ceremony location will be conducted
    • Vow selection will be discussed. If specific vows are to be included, please provide a written copy, subject to approval by your Officiant. Please note that a civil ceremony cannot contain any religious readings or connotations of any kind.
    • Review of the ceremony format,  i.e. use of music, photographer, walk-in, etc. 

  Civil Marriage Ceremonies                                                                                        

  Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the ceremony to allow time for review of last minute details.  Guests should be advised to arrive 15 minutes prior to the ceremony time. For larger numbers of guests, please advise 20 - 30 minutes prior to ceremony time. Your ceremony booking allows you access to the Chambers for 45 minutes. Late arrivals will have a reduced time in the Chambers. The Council chambers can accommodate a maximum of 100 guests.   To maintain the dignity of the ceremony, appropriate attire should be worn for the occasion. Therefore shorts and t-shirts are not allowed.              

  No confetti, petals, bubbles, candles etc. are allowed in or on the grounds of the municipal centre.  Decorations such as flowers and balloons are permitted in the chambers, upon review with the Officiant.  Decorations must be removed within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the ceremony.

  Alcohol or stimulants are not permitted in the chambers and are not to be used by the celebrants and/or their witnesses prior to, during, or following the ceremony.  If the Officiant believes that alcohol or other stimulants have been used prior to the ceremony, the ceremony will not proceed.

  The taking of photographs and use of cell phones by witnesses and guests will not be permitted during the ceremony. One (1) designated photographer/videographer will be permitted to record the ceremony.   An opportunity will be provided for photographs before the ceremony begins, during the signing of the register and when the ceremony is completed. 

  Two witnesses to each civil ceremony are required. There is no minimum age requirement, however, witnesses should be at least 16 years of age and must be able to understand and appreciate the nature of the ceremony and be able to give evidence of such, if required.

  Changes to the ceremony date and/or time are allowed at no additional charge provided that the location and Officiant are available. An administration fee will be charged if the ceremony is cancelled less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled date (as per the current Fees and Charges By-law). No refund will be issued if the ceremony is cancelled on the day of the ceremony, or if the applicant(s) do not show up for the ceremony.

  Interpreters Required?

  The civil marriage ceremony will be conducted in English.  If either partner does not understand and speak English, you must provide your own certified interpreter and he/she must provide identification and complete an Oath of Interpreter form at the ceremony.  The interpreter may not be one of the witnesses.

  Accessibility

  The Municipal Offices, including the Council Chambers, are wheelchair accessible.  Accessible parking is available at the main entrance.

• Record of Marriage / Marriage Certificate

  Record of Marriage / Marriage Certificate

  A "Record of Solemnization of Marriage" will be given to you at the conclusion of 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
• Who Can Perform a Marriage Ceremony?

  An authorized official needs to marry you 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.