To celebrate your civil marriage, the celebrant notary will ask for several documents. These documents will allow her to make sure that you meet the conditions required to marry civilly.

Documents required for a civil marriage

Documents for the future spouses

At the initial meeting with the civil marriage celebrant, each of the future spouses will have to provide the following documents:

Proof of identity of the future spouses:

• two legible and unexpired pieces of identity, of which at least one has a photo such as a driver’s licence, health insurance card or passport.

Proof of age of the future spouses:

• act of birth or birth certificate.

Proof of civil status of the future spouses:
If either of the future spouses is:

• Single: no documents to be provided.
• Single following an annulled civil union or marriage: certified true copy of the annulment judgement.
• Single following a dissolved civil union: certified true copy of the joint declaration of dissolution received before a notary or a certified true copy of the dissolution judgement of the civil union.
• Divorced: certified true copy of the certificate of divorce or certified true copy of the irrevocable divorce judgement.
• Widow(er): death certificate of the deceased or copy of the deceased’s act of death.

Documents for the witness

At the initial meeting, the future spouses must be accompanied by a witness who certifies the information contained in the act of publication of the civil marriage such as the name of the future spouse(s), their dates and places of birth.

The witness must present the celebrant notary with two legible and unexpired pieces of identity, of which at least one has a photo such as a driver’s licence, health insurance card or passport.

The two witnesses who will be present on the day of the civil marriage celebration do not have to present identification.

Documents written in a language other than French or English

If your identity documents, acts, certificates, judgements or other documents are written in a language other than French or English, you will have to provide a translation into French or English done by a translator who is a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) or a declaration under oath by the translator in which he certifies the accuracy of the document in question.