Getting Married in Quebec

The process for getting married in Quebec is a little more involved than in other provinces. However, rest assured, our office and team of officiants are here to guide you through every step.

You will notice that your officiant is the licencing agent in Quebec which means they must verify all of your ID and documents so that they can provide you with the Declaration of marriage (marriage licence equivalent).

As a result of the officiant’s responsibilities, all weddings in Quebec fall into the Perfectly Planned package.

Prior to Marriage

Please review the list of requirements below and ensure that you have everything, in either French or English. If you do not, you may need to order documents which can cause delays

• ID Required
  You must provide the officiant with a clear copy (front and back) for the following two pieces of ID. The officiant MUST also see originals of all documents for validation.

1. Birth Certificate
   Original birth certificate or act of birth which includes your parents’ names. (For Ontario couples, this is the long form birth certificate.) All equivalent birth records must be certified to be a true copy by the office of civil status of that country/province in which it originated.
2. Additional valid photo ID such as:
   Québec health insurance card; driver’s licence; Canadian or foreign passport; Canadian citizenship card (issued since 2002); U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); etc.

• Previously married?
  If you were previously married, you will need to provide your officiant with an original certified true copy of the absolute decree of divorce or certificate of divorce, or death certificate. (If there was an annulment or you had a previous civil union, please discuss with your officiant to see what will be needed.)

Publication of the notice of marriage

Your officiant must prepare and publish a posting at least 25 days prior to your wedding date. This is posted on the website of the Directeur de l’état civil.

During the Ceremony

The Civil Code

Your officiant must read certain articles of the Civil Code during your ceremony [we will send you a sample ceremony with a copy of the articles]. This applies to ALL couples getting married in QC, even if you do not live there. The Civil Code must be read in front of both you and your two witnesses and must be read in either French or English.

After the Ceremony

Once the marriage has been registered, the Quebec government will send you a letter to let you know that your wedding is now registered as well as provide you with a ‘DEClic’ number so that you can apply for your marriage certificate online.

Name Change

Quebec Residents

Residents of Quebec cannot take their spouse’s last name, regardless of where they get married.

Ontario Couples Getting Married in Quebec

However, residents of Ontario and other provinces can still take their spouse’s last name, even if married in Quebec.

If you have any questions, please call us on 1-800-545-3681. If you would like to request a quote, click here to get started.