Alberta - Getting Married

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Procedure

Before You Get Married

• Before you get married, you must get a Marriage License and a Registration of Marriage from the registry agent network in Alberta.

• A Marriage License shows that you meet the requirements to get married in Alberta and gives you the legal authority to get married any time within three months from the date the license was issued. You will receive a Registration of Marriage and Marriage License which you must present to the marriage officiant. Once complete, the Registration of Marriage form becomes a permanent legal record of your marriage.

Contacting a Marriage Officiant

• A marriage officiant is a person with the legal authority to perform marriages in Alberta. When planning your marriage, you may wish to have a religious or civil ceremony. There are no legal differences between these two types of ceremonies.

• Religious ceremonies can be performed by a religious representative or clergy registered with Vital Statistics. Marriage Commissioners appointed by the Government of Alberta can perform civil ceremonies. Check our listing of marriage commissioners for a marriage commissioner in your area. Any registry agent can also provide you with a list.

Marriage Ceremonies

Civil Ceremonies

Marriage ceremonies performed by a marriage commissioner require that at some point during the ceremony, in the presence of the marriage commissioner and the two adult witnesses, the couple declare to one another:

• I do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I, (name) may not be joined in matrimony to (name)
• I call upon those persons present to witness that I, (name), do take you, (name) to be my lawful wedded wife/husband/spouse

Religious Ceremonies

Other than the above basic requirements, there are no government regulations with respect to the solemnization of the marriage by a member of the clergy.

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Required Documents

• Marriage License
• Registration of Marriage

Office Locations & Contacts

• Telephone Service

Edmonton and surrounding areas dial: 780-427-7013
Within Alberta dial 310-0000 toll-free, followed by 780-427-7013

• Mailing Address

Service Alberta
Vital Statistics
Box 2023
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W7

• E-Mail

Send an e-mail to: vs@gov.ab.ca

• Registry Agents Network

http://servicealberta.com/1641.cfm

Fees

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Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

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Instructions

Marriage Ceremony Requirements:

• Both parties to the marriage, a registered officiant and two adult witnesses must be present at the ceremony.
• The couple must present a valid Alberta marriage license.
• The Registration of Marriage must be signed by both parties to the marriage, the marriage officiant and two adult witnesses.

Required Information

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

Service Alberta is responsible for licensing and registering marriages in Alberta. In addition, the department registers religious organizations and their clergy who are authorized to perform marriages, appoint marriage commissioners and establishes the legal requirements for civil marriage ceremonies.

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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External Links

http://www.servicealberta.ca/1822.cfm
http://www.servicealberta.ca/768.cfm

Others

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