Marriage licences and certificates

The Vital Statistics Branch registers marriages and provides certificates of marriages that have occurred in the province.

Eligibility

A person is eligible to apply if:

• they are a party to the marriage
• they have written authorization bearing the signature of one of the parties to the marriage
• they are the legal representative of a party to the marriage and this party is incapable
• they are the child or parent of either party if both parties to the marriage are deceased
• it is the Minister of Social Development or his or her designate if the certificate is required in the discharge of his or her duties under the Family Services Act.

Description

The information required to obtain a marriage certificate is names of parties at time of marriage, date of marriage, place of marriage, relationship to persons named on certificate, reason why certificate is required, daytime phone number and return address.

The marriage certificate includes names of the parties at the time of marriage, date of marriage, place of marriage, registration date, registration number, date issued, province or country of birth of each party.

A photocopy of a marriage registration is available with the written consent of one of the parties to the marriage.

Fees: The fee for a marriage certificate is $45 when applying in person or by mail and $40 when applying online.

The fee for a photocopy of the marriage registration is $40.

• Application for Marriage Certificate (online)
• Application for Marriage Certificate (PDF 301 KB)

Every couple must obtain a marriage licence before they get married.

Overview

Every couple must complete the Marriage Licence Application. Once completed, they must visit any service centre with all supporting documentation.

The parties to the marriage must be present together and over 18 to marry without the consent of their parent(s) or guardian(s) or have been previously married. Proof of age and identity must be provided by presenting documents such as a birth certificate, current passport, Canadian Citizenship card or Record of Landing/Canadian Permanent Resident Card. 

In addition, a divorced person must present an original or court certified copy of their final decree, Decree Absolute or Certificate of Divorce. A widowed person must provide an original Funeral Directors Statement of Death or death certificate.

A legal marriage may take place as either a religious or civil marriage ceremony. This ceremony may be performed anywhere in New Brunswick, as long as the person performing the marriage is authorized to do so.

Religious marriage ceremonies are performed by clerics of churches and religious denominations recognized under the Marriage Act. To be registered, the governing authority of the recognized church or religious denomination will apply on behalf of the cleric to the Vital Statistics Office.

A civil officiant may solemnize civil marriage ceremonies throughout the province. An eligible member of the Law Society of New Brunswick may apply to the Registrar General of Vital Statistics to become a civil officiant. A list of civil officiants (PDF 776 KB) is available online.

The fee for a marriage licence is $115.