Marriage Licence
Every couple must obtain a marriage licence and present it to the officiant before a ceremony is performed.
Marriage Licences are available at Service New Brunswick locations throughout the province (www.snb.ca/locations). For more information call 1-888-762-8600 toll-free within North America, or 1-506-684-7901 outside North America. Please note the Vital Statistics Office does not issue Marriage Licences.
The fee for a Marriage Licence is $115.00.
The “Marriage Licence and Statement of Marriage” is a two-part form. The “Marriage Licence (Form 9)” must be retained in office records as your authorization to solemnize the marriage. The “Statement of Marriage (Form 10)” must be completed and signed by the Civil Officiant, the contracting parties and witnesses on the day of the marriage. This portion of the form is given to the newly married couple.
No Waiting Period
When an application is made for a Marriage Licence, the licence may be issued at once and become valid immediately if everything is found to be in order by the “Issuer of Marriage Licences” (a Service New Brunswick employee who issues the marriage licence).
Time Restriction of Licence
A Marriage Licence is valid for three months from the date of issue. If the proposed date of marriage or name of the officiant is changed within the three month period, the licence is still valid. Neither the Issuer of Marriage Licences at the Service New Brunswick centre nor the Vital Statistics Office need to be contacted. However, if the licence has expired, the couple must apply for another licence.
Legal Age of the two Witnesses
A person must be 19 years of age or older to be a witness to a marriage.
Legal Age for Marriage
Both parties to the marriage must be at least 18 years of age to marry without the consent of their parent(s) or guardian(s), or each must have been previously married.
Consent Required - Ages 16 or 17
Any person 16 or 17 years of age who was not previously married must receive written consent from his or her mother and father when applying for a marriage licence. Both parents* must appear before the Issuer of Marriage Licences and sign an affidavit of consent.
*If the parents are separated or divorced
Consent and documentation are required from the supporting parent who must appear with the couple before the Issuer of Marriage Licences and sign an affidavit of consent.
*If one of the parents has died
Consent and documentation is required from the living parent who must appear with the couple before the Issuer of Marriage Licences and sign an affidavit of consent.
*If both parents have died
Consent and documentation is required from the duly appointed guardian(s) who must appear with the couple before the Issuer of Marriage Licences and sign an affidavit of consent.
Under the Age of 16
No person who is under the age of 16 years may contract marriage.