Marriage, Birth, Death

Marriage Licence Update

The Marriage Act has been amended to extend the 90-day expiration period for unused marriage licences as follows:

• Licences issued between December 1, 2019, and July 24, 2020, are still valid and can be used until July 24, 2022;
• Licences issued between October 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, are still valid and can be used until February 10, 2023; and
• Licences issued between January 1, 2021, and June 4, 2021, are still valid and can be used until June 4, 2023.

The extension applies if there are no changes to important information on the licence since the date it was issued. If there are changes to important information, please contact the Clerk's Division for a replacement licence.

Applying for a marriage licence

Complete the online marriage licence application, including typing your signature, and staff from the Municipal Clerk’s office will contact you to make arrangements for you to email your identification and attend the Municipal Clerk’s office to issue the marriage licence.

Municipal Clerk's Office Location:
40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville

Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Application forms and details

• Forms should be submitted online
• An application fee of $135 is payable by cash, cheque, or debit when you pick up the licence
• Applicants 16 or 17 years of age require parental consent; contact the Clerk's Office for details
• You do not have to show proof of residency or citizenship
• Once a marriage licence has been issued, it is valid for three months (unless extended by the Province during an emergency – contact the Clerk’s Division for details)

Identification requirements

When you attend the Municipal Clerk’s Office, bring two original pieces of government-issued identification for each applicant. One piece of identification must include a current passport or original birth certificate. The second piece of identification must be government-issued and include a photo.

Examples of government-issued photo identification:

• Valid passport
• Record of immigrant landing or Canadian Citizenship Card
• Valid driver's licence
• Valid LCBO issued BYID card (or valid 'Age of Majority' card)
• Valid health card, which includes the photo
• Valid firearms possession and acquisition licence

Note: A certified translator must translate documents from a language other than English or French to English.

Service Ontario has more information on marriages, authorized officials, types of marriages, forms, marriage certificates, changing names and remarriage after divorce.

Marrying after a divorce

If you are getting married after a divorce, you will need to provide an original certificate of divorce, final decree or final judgement. If you do not have an original, you can get a court-certified copy of your divorce documents from the court that issued the divorce. You are required to provide proof of divorce even if your ex-spouse is deceased. For detailed information, see the Government of Ontario website.

Marrying after the death of a spouse

Widowed applicants are not required to provide proof of death. If the marriage of an applicant ended by the presumed death of a spouse, you must provide a court order declaring the presumed death.

Civil marriage ceremonies

The Municipal Clerk or designate performs civil marriage ceremonies at the Municipal Administrative Centre Monday through Friday.

Death registrations

Visit Service Ontario to order a death certificate online.

All deaths in Ontario are registered through the Office of the Registrar General. You can find information on archived death records on the Archives of Ontario website.

Birth registrations

To register your new baby, visit Service Ontario's Newborn Registration Service. You can also get or replace an Ontario Birth Certificate online.