Marriage Checklist for Canadian Couples

Marriage licence by province

• Ontario: apply through a municipal clerk (many offer online applications); no waiting period; licence valid for 90 days from issue; both people typically need to attend in person to sign, and valid government photo ID is required
• British Columbia: apply online through Vital Statistics or in person; no waiting period; licence valid for 3 months
• Alberta: apply through a licensed marriage commissioner or issuer; no waiting period; licence valid for 3 months
• Every province requires a licensed officiant or marriage commissioner to perform the ceremony — a licence alone doesn't make a marriage legal without one
• Bring valid government-issued photo ID for both people; if either of you was previously married, you may need proof the previous marriage ended (divorce certificate or death certificate)
• The marriage certificate (proof the marriage happened) is a separate document from the licence (permission to marry) — order it from provincial Vital Statistics after the ceremony, and order more than one certified copy if you plan to change your name

Common-law vs. married — what's actually different

• Common-law status is generally based on living together for a set period (commonly around 12 months, sometimes with a child together, though the exact definition varies by federal program and by province) — it's not automatic on day one of living together
• Married status generally comes with more automatic legal protection around property division on separation — common-law property rights vary significantly by province, and in some provinces are much more limited than married couples' rights
• Both common-law and married couples are typically treated the same for federal tax and benefit purposes (CRA, CCB, GST/HST credit) once the common-law threshold is met — the tax difference between the two statuses is smaller than the property-law difference
• A cohabitation agreement is the common-law equivalent of a prenuptial agreement — worth considering given how much provincial property rights vary, especially before a major joint purchase like a home
• Update your CRA marital status as soon as it changes (married or common-law) — it affects benefit calculations, and reporting late can affect payments

Changing your name after marriage

• A marriage certificate is generally sufficient legal proof to change to your spouse's surname — you typically don't need a separate legal name change application for this specific change, though rules vary slightly by province
• Order several certified copies of your marriage certificate before you start — most offices below want an original, not a photocopy
• Update your SIN record with Service Canada first — many other updates flow more smoothly once your SIN reflects your new name
• Update your provincial driver's licence and health card at your provincial licensing office
• Update your passport — this requires the marriage certificate plus the standard passport renewal documents
• If you're choosing a name that isn't simply your spouse's existing surname (a blended name, for example), check whether your province requires a separate formal legal name change process — the marriage-certificate shortcut generally applies to taking your spouse's name specifically

Everything else to update after the wedding

• Beneficiary designations on RRSPs, TFSAs, and life insurance — these pass directly to the named beneficiary and don't automatically update just because you got married
• Your will — getting married can revoke an existing will in some provinces, which makes this one of the more urgent items on this list, not a someday task
• Banks — decide on joint accounts, and update your name on existing accounts if it changed
• Employer — for benefits enrollment, tax forms, and emergency contact updates
• Auto and home/tenant insurance — marriage can actually lower some premiums, and insurers need accurate household information regardless
• Notify the CRA of your new marital status — this isn't optional, and it affects benefit and credit calculations going forward

Practical tips

• Order more certified marriage certificates than feels necessary if you're changing your name — SIN, licence, health card, and passport offices each typically want their own original.
• Do the SIN update first. Several other name-change steps go more smoothly once government records already show your new name.
• Review your will within the same season as the wedding, not "eventually" — in some provinces, marriage automatically revokes a prior will.

Frequently asked questions