Remarrying After A Divorce

Getting Married in Ontario

Those wishing to get married in Ontario need to obtain a marriage license from the government of Ontario.  In order to get your marriage license there are several government requirements that must be met.

Remarrying After A Divorce

Where one of the persons getting married was divorced, then the government of Ontario must satisfy itself that the divorce is valid in order to avoid a polygamous marriage (marriage to many spouses).  If the divorce was granted by a court or other authority outside out of Canada, then the Ontario government requires a legal opinion letter from an Ontario lawyer giving reasons why the foreign divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario.

According to ServiceOntario:

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married.  The government needs to validate these documents.

You will need to send the following documents to ServiceOntario:

  1. marriage licence application form: completed and signed
  2. statement of sole responsibility: for each divorce (signed by both people who are planning to get married and a witness)
  3. legal opinion letter: from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people who plan to get married, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario
  4. divorce decree or annulment: an original or court-certified copy in English or French.  If the decree is in another language, you will need to include a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator

We can provide you with such a legal opinion letter.  

See  the Ontario Government’s website for all the details:  http://www.ontario.ca/government/get-married-ontario