If you were divorced outside Canada and plan to get married in Ontario, your marriage licence application needs one extra step: proof that the foreign divorce can be recognized.
Why marriage licence files get delayed
Delays usually happen when the licence issuer sees a foreign divorce document but cannot determine whether it is recognized in Ontario. This is especially common where documents are translated, use foreign court terminology, or do not clearly show finality.
Prepare before the appointment
It is better to review the file before the licence appointment than to discover the issue after a wedding date has already been set.
- Check that the divorce document is final
- Arrange certified translation if needed
- Confirm name spelling across documents
- Keep the licence office request if one was provided
How foreign divorce opinion letters help
Foreign divorce opinion letters give the licence issuer a lawyer-prepared explanation that connects the foreign divorce documents to the Ontario marriage licence process.
A foreign divorce issue is easier to solve before the marriage licence appointment than after the file has been paused.
