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Wedding FAQ
What are the legal requirements to marry in Ontario?
You can find complete requirements for marriage licenses from the Niagara Falls city website, Click on City Hall, then Marriage Licenses for details; special requirements apply if you have been divorced or had an annulment. There is a $125 (Canadian dollars) fee for the license, which you can use anywhere in Ontario for 90 days after it is issued.IMPORTANT What If I Have Been Divorced?
If you have been divorced outside of Canada, you will not be granted a license until a Canadian lawyer verifies your documents. No way around this, folks.A Canadian lawyer MUST do the footwork, send things off to Thunder Bay (Registrar General) and then you may apply for a license. Paperwork needs to be received a few months in advance of the wedding, but in some cases a faster turnaround can be achieved. Once your documents have been approved there is a 90-day window to have your wedding.
US RESIDENTS please note - It has come to Deb's attention that many attorneys are advertising a week turnaround for foreign authorizations. This is basically impossible and an apparent cash grab in the wake of the ruling that NY gay and lesbian couples can have out-of-country weddings recognized.
The lawyer can certainly review your documents and write a letter in a week -- BUT any reputable lawyer will send your paperwork to the office in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The official government voice mail 1-800-461-2156 will tell you to expect it to take FOUR WEEKS to be processed once they receive your paperwork. Please make sure that the attorney gives you a breakdown of what you can expect for your money! Anyone charging more than $300 and not sending the paperwork for you is a red flag, and should be avoided.
We recommend these two firms in Niagara Falls, Ontario, who handle foreign divorce authorizations all the time:
Bev Hodgson's office at 905-354-1600. Sherry is the lawyer in charge of the authorizations and will work with you step by step. Her email is sherry@bevhodgson.comTina Mangiacasale, 905-357-3500.
What if we are not Canadian?
You do not have to be a Canadian citizen to marry in Canada. There are no residency or citizenship requirements, nor are there any special requirements for same-sex couples.Will my Canadian wedding be recognized in my home country?
In mixed-gender marriages, yes. At this time, same-sex marriages are recognized only in Canada, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands. In the US, the state of Massachusetts and Califormia now recognize same-sex marriage. The State of New York recognizes out of country same-sex marriages.May we write our own vows?
Yes, you may bring along original vows. Little touches like these make the ceremony uniquely yours.How long do services last?
Generally, ceremonies are between 15 and forty minutes in all. Wedding masses may take up to an hour. Lengthy ceremonies tend to become uncomfortably long for guests, we have found.How much do your weddings cost?
Services begin at $250 for offsite, $150 for onsite elopements and $225 for onsite weddings with guests. Off-site ceremonies may include fees for travel. Check out the "Making a Date with Rev. Deb" page. Upon booking, you are sent a verification of your date and time, along with a receipt of your deposit/payment.What if I am estranged from my Anglican or Catholic church?
Deborah is an Anglican priest now working with the Community Catholic Church of Canada and is now Bishop of Southwestern Ontario. This church is in full communion with the Anglican church and is also recognized by the Vatican as having valid orders, sacraments, and apostolic succession. As such, sacramental marriages are valid in both churches with the exception of same-sex marriages, which are not accepted by either body.I am part of a same-sex couple. Can I have a sacramental marriage?
The Community Catholic Church of Canada recognizes and blesses gay and lesbian weddings just as any other and is pleased to offer the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples. Bishop Deb is happy to perform sacramental weddings for any couple who wishes one and has no impediments to the sacrament. If you have questions, email us.
Holy Angels Community, 322 Mary Street, Box 1856, Niagara-on-the-Lake, On L0S1J0
905-468-9502 revdeb@sympatico.ca