Alberta Marriage Laws

Couples must be aware of Alberta's marriage laws prior to taking part in a legal marriage ceremony.

The following is provided as general information and should not be considered as legal advice.

Please refer to the Government Of Alberta Vital Statistics website for specific details

Couples are not required to have physical examinations or blood tests.

• Both the bride and groom must be 18 years of age or present written consent from a legal guardian.
• The couple must have two witnesses who are 18 years of age or older.
• An interpreter's service may be used if the bride and/or groom do not speak English.
• Couples must obtain an Alberta Marriage License from a Registry Office in the Province of Alberta.

The license is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

As a minimum, the bride and groom should present the following information to obtain a marriage license.  

• Proof of identification
• Parent's birthplace and names, including the mother's maiden name
• If applicable, final divorce papers

For a marriage to be legally recognised, couples should be aware of the following:

• Prior to the marriage ceremony, couples must provide the license to the Marriage Commissioner. The license will not be returned to the couple.
• Couples receive a Marriage Statement certificate upon completion of the ceremony. This is not a legal document.
• Couples must apply to the Alberta Vital Statistics Registry to acquire an official Certificate of Marriage.

Note: In Alberta, an Alberta Marriage Commissioner conducts civil wedding ceremonies. Marriage Commissioners are appointed by the Alberta government; however, they are not salaried employees nor are they subsidised in any way. In other parts of the world, this person may be called a Celebrant, a Justice of the Peace, a JP, or an Officiant.

Ministers, priests, rabbis, or another clergy member perform religious ceremonies.