If you do not have the
original Ontario marriage certificate**
that was given to you at your Ontario wedding ceremony or a replacement
original from the Registrar General, you must obtain a replacement
certificate from the
Registrar General. You can order one online at
www.orgforms.gov.on.ca/eForms/start.do.
NOTE: The fastest service is by using the online system and
paying with a credit card (the $15 'short form' is
sufficient). If you do not have a credit card, you can print
the form and mail it in with a cheque, or drop it off at the
nearest "Service Ontario" Counter.
Note they will not issue the certificate
'on-the-spot'. If you have a credit card, the fastest way is
to order and pay online. The R-G offers a 'rush' service for
an additional $30. However as of March 2011, they were
getting certificates issued and out in the mail the same day
that they were ordered without paying the extra $30.
**Depending
on the year of marriage, either
the bottom portion of the marriage license or
'stand-alone' form called at
various times "Certificate of Marriage", "Marriage
Certificate", "Record of Marriage", or "Record of
Solemnization of Marriage". Ceremonial 'certificates'
issued by your church, synagogue, mosque, etc. are not
acceptable alternatives. If in doubt, you can fax a copy to
us and we will tell you if it is 'official' or not.
Note: While it is best to have the certificate from
the start, for City of Toronto divorces only, you do not have to delay filing the divorce if
you do not yet have the marriage certificate. It may be filed
with the second set of papers. If your divorce will be filed
anywhere else in Ontario, including the "GTA" (because neither you nor your spouse
reside in the City of Toronto), we require
that you obtain the
marriage certificate before your divorce is filed
with the court.
