Last updated: September 7, 2026
If you were divorced outside Canada and are preparing to remarry in Ontario, you may come across a document called the Statement of Sole Responsibility.
It is one of the documents Ontario requires as part of the process for obtaining authorization to marry after a divorce outside Canada.
The Statement of Sole Responsibility is not your foreign divorce opinion letter. It is also not the Foreign Divorce Authorization itself.
Ontario currently requires a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each foreign divorce, signed by both people planning to marry and a witness.
Here is where the document fits into the process and what you should know before completing your foreign-divorce package.
What is a Statement of Sole Responsibility?
The Statement of Sole Responsibility is a document required as part of Ontario's process when a person was previously divorced outside Canada and now wants to obtain an Ontario marriage licence.
Ontario's official guidance for people getting married after a divorce outside Canada currently lists four core components that must be sent to ServiceOntario:
- the completed and signed Marriage Licence Application;
- a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce;
- a legal opinion letter from an Ontario lawyer; and
- the applicable foreign divorce decree or annulment documentation.
If the foreign divorce document is not in English or French, additional translation documentation is also required.
The Statement of Sole Responsibility therefore forms one part of a larger authorization package.
Why is it called a “Statement of Sole Responsibility”?
The name can sound more complicated than the document's role in the process.
The important practical point is that Ontario requires the statement when a person is relying on a divorce or annulment granted outside Canada to establish that they are free to remarry.
It should not be confused with the lawyer's role in analyzing whether the foreign divorce should be recognized.
The applicant statement and the lawyer's legal opinion are different documents serving different functions.
For that reason, completing the Statement of Sole Responsibility does not eliminate the need for the Ontario lawyer's opinion letter.
Who needs to complete a Statement of Sole Responsibility?
If a person applying for an Ontario marriage licence has a previous divorce or annulment from outside Canada, a Statement of Sole Responsibility is required as part of the foreign-divorce package.
Ontario's current instructions specify a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce.
That wording matters if there is more than one previous foreign divorce.
What if only one of us was divorced outside Canada?
The foreign-divorce process arises because of that applicant's previous divorce.
However, Ontario's current instructions say that the Statement of Sole Responsibility must be signed by both people who are planning to get married and a witness.
So the fact that only one applicant was previously divorced does not mean only that person signs the statement.
What if both of us were previously divorced outside Canada?
There may be more than one foreign divorce to address.
Ontario specifies a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce, so do not assume that one statement necessarily covers multiple previous foreign divorces.
If both applicants have foreign divorces—or one applicant has more than one—confirm that the package contains the required documentation for each applicable divorce.
Who signs the Statement of Sole Responsibility?
Ontario's current guidance is quite specific.
The Statement of Sole Responsibility must be signed by:
both people who are planning to get married, and a witness.
This is worth checking before the package is submitted.
An unsigned or improperly completed required form can create an avoidable problem in an application that may already involve a lawyer's opinion, foreign court documents and translations.
Is the Statement of Sole Responsibility the same as a foreign divorce opinion letter?
No.
This is probably the most important distinction for someone assembling the package.
| Document | Purpose | Who prepares/signs it? |
| Statement of Sole Responsibility | Required statement forming part of the foreign-divorce package | Both people planning to marry + witness, under current Ontario guidance |
| Foreign divorce opinion letter | Provides the legal opinion explaining why the foreign divorce or annulment should be recognized | Ontario lawyer |
| Foreign Divorce Authorization | Written authorization required before the marriage licence can be issued in the applicable foreign-divorce situation | Ontario government process |
Ontario currently requires the legal opinion letter to be from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people planning to marry, and to give reasons why the foreign divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario.
For the distinction between the last two documents, see Foreign Divorce Opinion Letter vs. Foreign Divorce Authorization: What's the Difference?.
Do I still need a lawyer if I complete the Statement of Sole Responsibility myself?
Yes, if you are going through Ontario's standard foreign-divorce authorization process.
Completing the Statement of Sole Responsibility does not replace the legal opinion letter.
Ontario separately requires a legal opinion from an Ontario lawyer.
The lawyer's job is different.
The lawyer reviews the foreign divorce and the relevant circumstances and provides reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario.
For a fuller explanation of that role, see What Is a Foreign Divorce Opinion Letter and Do I Need One?.
Is the Statement of Sole Responsibility the same as the Foreign Divorce Authorization?
No.
Think of the Statement of Sole Responsibility as one document inside the application package.
The Foreign Divorce Authorization is what you are seeking through Ontario's process.
The sequence generally looks like this:
Foreign divorce documents → required forms and lawyer review → legal opinion letter → complete authorization package → Ontario review → Foreign Divorce Authorization → marriage licence
The Statement of Sole Responsibility belongs toward the beginning of that process. It is not the final authorization.
For a full explanation, see What Is a Foreign Divorce Authorization in Ontario?.
What else do I need besides the Statement of Sole Responsibility?
The statement is only one part of the package.
Ontario currently says you need to send the following to ServiceOntario when you were divorced outside Canada:
- Marriage Licence Application — completed and signed.
- Statement of Sole Responsibility — for each applicable foreign divorce.
- Legal Opinion Letter — from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people planning to marry and giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario.
- Divorce Decree or Annulment — a copy in English or French, together with the required translation material if it is in another language.
Our Foreign Divorce Opinion Letter Requirements provides a broader checklist for preparing your documents.
Do I need a separate Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce?
Yes, according to Ontario's current public instructions.
Ontario expressly says:
Statement of Sole Responsibility: for each divorce.
That can matter in situations involving multiple previous marriages.
For example, suppose an applicant has been married twice before and both marriages ended through divorces outside Canada.
Do not assume one statement is enough merely because the same person was involved in both divorces.
Each applicable foreign divorce needs to be addressed according to Ontario's current requirements.
What if my previous divorce was granted in Canada?
The foreign-divorce process is different from the process for a divorce granted in Canada.
Ontario's current guidance says that someone divorced in Canada provides official proof of that divorce when applying for a marriage licence. Acceptable proof can include a final decree, final judgment or certificate of divorce.
The Statement of Sole Responsibility discussed in this article belongs to the out-of-country divorce process.
If your only previous divorce was granted in Canada, do not automatically follow the foreign-divorce package described here.
What if I already have my foreign divorce certificate?
You still need to deal with the other required components of Ontario's process.
The foreign divorce document and the Statement of Sole Responsibility are separate.
So are the foreign divorce document and the lawyer's opinion letter.
Having one does not automatically replace the others.
Toronto's current marriage-licence instructions likewise list the Statement of Sole Responsibility, Ontario lawyer's legal opinion, marriage-licence application and foreign divorce documentation separately.
This is one of the most common ways to misunderstand the process: a person has a perfectly valid-looking divorce certificate and assumes it is the only document Ontario needs.
It isn't.
What if my foreign divorce document needs translation?
The Statement of Sole Responsibility does not solve a translation issue with the underlying divorce document.
Ontario currently says that where the divorce decree is in a language other than English or French, the package needs a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator.
For more information, see Certified Translation of Foreign Divorce Documents in Ontario.
Translation should be dealt with early because the Ontario lawyer also needs to be able to properly review the divorce documentation.
Where do I get the Statement of Sole Responsibility form?
Use the current form provided through Ontario's official foreign-divorce marriage-licence process.
Start with Ontario's Before getting married guidance, rather than downloading an old copy from an unofficial website.
Government forms and submission procedures can change.
Using the current Ontario source reduces the risk of completing an outdated form.
The City of Toronto's marriage-licence guidance also directs applicants divorced outside Canada to ServiceOntario for the required forms and information.
Where do I submit the Statement of Sole Responsibility?
It forms part of the package submitted for Ontario's foreign-divorce authorization process.
Ontario's current guidance instructs applicants to send the required documents directly to the ServiceOntario Marriage Office.
The Statement of Sole Responsibility should not be treated as a standalone application sent separately from the rest of the required package unless current Ontario instructions specifically direct otherwise.
What happens after I submit the form?
The Statement of Sole Responsibility is reviewed as part of the broader foreign-divorce package.
Ontario currently says that documents relating to a divorce outside Canada must be validated by the government and may take up to four weeks to process.
Ontario also says completed Foreign Divorce Authorizations are sent to applicants by courier, making an accurate full mailing address important.
This government processing period is separate from the time an Ontario lawyer needs to review the foreign divorce and prepare the legal opinion letter.
See Foreign Divorce Opinion Letter Cost & Timeline for the law firm's current opinion-letter timelines.
Can I get my Ontario marriage licence before completing this form?
Where the foreign-divorce authorization requirement applies, the authorization process needs to be completed before the marriage licence is issued.
Toronto's current instructions are explicit: after receiving the Foreign Divorce Authorization, an applicant can make the marriage-licence appointment, and a licence will not be issued at the appointment without the required authorization.
The Statement of Sole Responsibility is one of the documents needed to get to that authorization stage.
If your wedding date is approaching, this is why it is better to deal with the foreign-divorce paperwork early.
Common mistakes to avoid with the Statement of Sole Responsibility
A few simple misunderstandings can cause unnecessary confusion.
Mistake 1: Thinking the statement replaces the lawyer's letter
It doesn't.
Ontario lists the Statement of Sole Responsibility and the legal opinion letter as separate required documents.
Mistake 2: Having only the previously divorced person sign it
Ontario's current public guidance says the statement is signed by both people planning to marry and a witness.
Mistake 3: Using one statement despite multiple foreign divorces
Ontario specifies a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce.
Mistake 4: Using an old form found elsewhere online
Use the current Ontario source. Government forms and requirements can change.
Mistake 5: Treating the form as the Foreign Divorce Authorization
The statement is part of the package. It is not the authorization itself.
Statement of Sole Responsibility checklist
Before the foreign-divorce package is submitted, confirm:
| Check | Why |
| Current Ontario form is being used | Avoid outdated forms |
| A statement exists for each applicable foreign divorce | Ontario currently requires one for each divorce |
| Both people planning to marry have signed | Current Ontario requirement |
| Required witness signature is complete | Current Ontario requirement |
| Marriage Licence Application is complete and signed | Separate required document |
| Ontario lawyer's opinion letter is included | Separate required document |
| Foreign divorce documentation is included | Establishes the underlying divorce |
| Required translation documents are included | Needed where the decree is not English/French |
This is an administrative checklist only. It does not determine whether the foreign divorce will ultimately be recognized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Statement of Sole Responsibility mandatory after a foreign divorce?
Ontario currently lists a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce as part of the documents required when someone divorced outside Canada is seeking to remarry in Ontario.
Who signs the Statement of Sole Responsibility?
Ontario's current guidance says it is signed by both people planning to get married and a witness.
Does my lawyer sign the Statement of Sole Responsibility?
The Statement of Sole Responsibility and the lawyer's legal opinion are separate documents. Follow the current official form's signature instructions for the statement itself.
Do I need one statement for every previous foreign divorce?
Ontario's current instructions specify a Statement of Sole Responsibility for each divorce.
Is the Statement of Sole Responsibility my Foreign Divorce Authorization?
No. It is one document included in the package used to obtain the Foreign Divorce Authorization.
Can the Statement of Sole Responsibility replace my divorce decree?
No. Ontario separately requires the applicable foreign divorce decree or annulment documentation.
Do I still need an Ontario lawyer?
Yes, for the legal opinion component. Ontario currently requires a legal opinion letter from an Ontario lawyer as a separate part of the foreign-divorce package.
Need the Legal Opinion for Your Foreign Divorce Package?
The Statement of Sole Responsibility is only one part of Ontario's process after a divorce outside Canada. You will also need the required foreign divorce documentation and the legal opinion letter from an Ontario lawyer.
ForeignDivorceOpinion.com is a service of ABALAW Professional Corporation, a licensed Ontario law firm serving clients across Ontario. Our legal team reviews foreign divorce documents and prepares the legal opinion letters required for Ontario Foreign Divorce Authorization applications.
Start Your Foreign Divorce Document Review →
This article provides general legal information for Ontario and is not legal advice. Government forms, submission requirements and foreign-divorce recognition rules can change or depend on the circumstances of the individual case.
