FAQs Archive - Mariage Civil

Q: What is the time period for a civil marriage?

For a civil marriage, there are certain delays. The first delay is the availability of the civil marriage officiant to receive you for an interview or a legal consultation if they are a notary. This period is variable depending on the celebrant you choose. Delays are usually longer in courthouses because they only celebrate marriages on Saturdays. Then there is a delay imposed by law to be observed. The publication of a civil marriage notice must be done at least 20 days before the celebration on the website of the Directeur de l'état civil du Québec. This requirement is very important. Failure to publish a marriage notice could result in the marriage being declared void. If two people in a civil union wish to get married, they should not publish a marriage notice. For certain serious reasons, an exemption from publication may be granted by the Directeur de l'état civil. It is then necessary to count the period of availability of the celebrant once the 20 days of publication of the notice of marriage have elapsed. This means that the minimum period for civil marriage is 3 weeks. It would therefore be reasonable to allow a period of 3 to 5 weeks to get married. The busiest day is usually Saturday. If you choose this day to get married, it may be that availability is scarce at short notice or more distant.

Q: Where can you get married in Montreal?

If you have decided to get married in Montreal, there are several places to celebrate your civil marriage. You can be married civilly in: -a reception room, -a restaurant, -a park or garden, -your home -a notary's office etc. The place of civil marriage must meet three criteria: -respect the solemn nature of the civil marriage ceremony -take place in a place where your officiant is allowed to marry you -be arranged for the civil marriage ceremony The location of the civil marriage also depends on the type of celebrant you choose. A court clerk or deputy court clerk has the right to marry you at the courthouse, in a hospital or penitentiary if one of the spouses is there. A mayor, a councillor or a municipal official can marry you in their town hall or in a place which is in the territory of their municipality. A relative who has been chosen as officiant will be able to celebrate a civil marriage in the place you agree with them. Just like a civil marriage celebrated by a notary officiant.

FAQs

How to get married at the courthouse?

What is the time period for a civil marriage?

Where can you get married in Montreal?