Prior Marriage

Want to get married but have a prior marriage?

Original or court-certified true copy documentation is needed in order for a marriage licence to be issued. The Town of Fort Frances will make a copy of this, and return the original to you.

Canadian Divorce

If you were granted a divorce in Canada from a previous marriage, you must bring one of the following with your marriage licence application:

Original Certificate of Divorce;
Decree Absolute; OR
Court-certified true copy of either document.

These documents are not acceptable:

Photocopies of documents;
Divorce judgement;
Divorce order;
Decree Nisi issued by the Court.

Divorce outside of Canada

If you annulled or dissolved your previous marriage outside of Canada, you must get permission from the Office of the Registrar General before we issue you a marriage licence.

To get permission, you or your lawyer must send the following by mail to

Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box 4600, 189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6L8

One of:

The original Certificate of Divorce
The Decree Absolute
Court-certified copy of these documents. A court-certified copy means certified by the proper court office in the jurisdiction that granted the divorce or annulment.

If the documents are not in English or French, include a translated copy with an affidavit sworn by the translator.

Statement of Sole Responsibility signed by both applicants for each divorce signed by both applicants. Get a paper copy at the Clerk’s Office or online at the Registrar General of Ontario. Statement of Sole Responsibility (PDF) (If this PDF does not open, try downloading it and opening it from your computer).
A legal opinion from an Ontario lawyer addressed to both applicants, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario.