I get asked a lot of questions about the information on Marriage Licences. So, here’s what I know.
The Marriage Licence is one of the documents signed at the wedding ceremony by the couple, their two witnesses and the Officiant. The completed Marriage Licence is mailed to Vital Statistics, a branch of the Ministry of Health. They keep track of births, adoptions, deaths, marriages and divorces. The Licence is mailed in within two days of the wedding.
What’s the difference between a Marriage Licence and a Marriage Certificate?
The Licence is your ticket to get married. The Certificate is the proof that the marriage happened. After the Licence is processed, the Certificate will be mailed to you automatically.
How do we get a Marriage Licence?
Issuers are listed on the Vital Statistics website – some insurance offices are issuers, as well as London Drugs. It’s all about accessibility. In 2024, the Licence costs $100. It is valid for 90 days. Not 3 months, 90 days! Photo ID of both Parties is required, though both do not need to be present.
The Marriage Licence is prepared and issued while you wait, even the same day. You will be given an envelope containing the Licence, and some information about name changing and Vital Statistics contact information. You can keep the information pages, and the Licence goes to your officiant.
When the issuer gives you the Marriage Licence, they will ask you to check it over carefully. Look at every single thing and make sure it’s correct – name spelling, birth dates, addressees. It’s best to get all corrections done at the time of issuing.
The Licence is valid for any location in BC.
What information is on the Licence?
*the names of the marriers, identified as PARTY on the two halves of the Licence – note that it’s not BRIDE and GROOM or BRIDEGROOM; PARTY is progressively neutral and inclusive.
*Legal Surname – OK, surname means LAST NAME. Lots of people don’t know this term.
*Given names – the names you were given at birth– your first name, middle name(s) – they are on your official documents. Not nicknames or short forms.
*Marital Status – Never Married, Widowed, or Divorced. (This is an improvement from 50 years ago when the Never Married terms were spinster and bachelor.)
*Birth date and age (seems a bit redundant to have age as well as birth date.)
*Sex – Male, Female or X are the options. X is the best Vital Statistics can do at this time to be inclusive; the X indicates that Party identifies their gender on the 2SLGBTQIA+ continuum. It is not required to declare the Sex Assigned At Birth.
*Birth Place – city or town, province or state, and country. Not the name of the hospital or home address.
*Aboriginal Information – Yes or No, and INAC number
*Address at the time of marriage – the Marriage Certificate will be sent to the address on the left side of the form, so check it really carefully. More about that later.
You are not asked the following: religion, sexual orientation, occupation, or political beliefs.
That is the information that is printed on the Marriage Licence at the time of issue. The rest is completed by – or under the supervision of – the officiant.
Do we need to put our parents’ information?
If you know it, yes. If you choose not to name a parent, you may put “unknown.” You cannot put “prefer not to say”; Vital Statistics doesn’t like that and they will contact you to ask for clarification. Please don’t say Unknown because you’re mad at your parent – be adult about this.
Parents are identified as Father and Mother. The names must match the names on Party’s birth certificate, the legal parents. Changes are in the works, my contact at Vital Statistics says! For example, if one Party has two “mothers” or two “fathers”, they list them. We can cross out Father or Mother and put Parent. Vital Statistics has indicated that this will be revised at some point in the future to be less binary.
The order of information is Surname, Given Names. i.e. Smith, Edward Theodore. For the mother (or parent) who may have changed their name, the “maiden” or unmarried surname is required.
The concept of “maiden” name will need to be adjusted moving forward, because either marrier may now take the surname of the other; it’s not only the bride taking the groom’s name anymore. Things are getting more complicated, and more inclusive!
If a marrier has been adopted, the legal adoptive parents are the named parents. If one or both of the birth parents are known, there is no room to put that information on the Licence. (Ontario Marriage Licences have room to name four parents!)
If a marrier has a step-parent, but was not legally adopted by that parent, the step-parent is not listed on the Licence.
Do we sign the Licence?
The rest of the Licence is the part that is completed during the signing portion of the ceremony. To be clear, signing denotes the ability to write your name, in cursive writing, as a signature.
Witnesses must be 18 or older, provide their legal surname and first name, and be able to sign their names.
Seriously, it is horrifying to me to learn that some people do not know how to write their name in “joined up writing”. Figure it out!!!
Why does Vital Statistics collect all this information?
They say, “Statistical purposes only.” (I guess they do “special math” and other coma-inducing activities with it!) Humans like to keep track of each other.
We’re moving right after we get married. How do we get our Marriage Certificate?
Vital Statistics will automatically send the Certificate to the first address on the licence. You can arrange to have Canada Post forward your mail. If you know the new address, list it on the licence.
How do I change my name?
Immediately after marriage, you may assume the surname of your spouse if you wish. When you get the Marriage Certificate, show it to the people, departments, or organizations that need to change paperwork to reflect the name change. This can be done at any time in the marriage.
We want to create our own new surname. What do we do?
Creating a new surname is a LEGAL NAME CHANGE. There is paperwork, a fee and time (4-5 months) involved. If you wish to use the new name as soon as you are married, maybe consider changing the name about 5 months before the wedding so that the Licence can be issued in the new surname for each of you. One of you can change the surname and the other can assume that name after marriage. (Saves the second fee!)
We changed our minds. Would you please not send in the Marriage Licence?
Seriously? You didn’t think it through before you had the wedding?
Once the Licence is signed, you are married. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. It is legal and binding.
If you want to have a big fancy party, have one! You don’t need to get married as the reason for a bash.
Here’s the link to the Vital Statistics website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/marriage
