How to get married in Quebec
In Quebec, the legal age for marriage is 16, but the persons under the age of 18 must obtain the consent of their legal representative. The wedding ceremony is usually held in a public place in the presence of two witnesses. Still, marriage can also be celebrated at the courthouse in a very formal manner, or by an officiant sworn by the Department of Justice.
Celebrating your wedding
The procedures of wedding celebration must be taken at least three or four months before the scheduled date, as the officiant must proceed with an official publication of the banns at the place where the ceremony will be held, as well as at the courthouse of the judicial district, by posting. This poster must be visible to the public for 20 days.
The officiant who organizes and presides over the marriage ceremony receives, on behalf of the judicial authority, the consent of the spouses and signs the documents legally in the presence of the witnesses. After that, he is responsible for sending all the documents to the registrar of civil status of Quebec who in turn registers the marriage in the civil status registers.
Important:
Celebrating a wedding in Quebec may require approximately 500 $ CDN. This figure, however, excludes the notarial costs of filing a marriage contract.
The future spouses have the right to choose between a religious wedding celebrated by a minister of religion authorized by the Minister responsible for civil status, or a civil marriage celebrated by a notary or any other person designated by the Ministry of Justice.
The consequences of a marriage
Marriage can unite not only two people of the opposite sex, but also two people of the same sex.
Good to know:
It is common for women who marry to keep their maiden name.
Couples can choose from the following three matrimonial regimes: partnership of acquests, separation of property or community of property. A couple can also make their own plan, as long as they remain within the law.
In the absence of a notarial deed provided before marriage, the default matrimonial regime is that of the partnership of acquests. This regime distinguishes between property acquired before marriage and property acquired after the marriage that will have to be shared equally.
In Quebec, both spouses are equal: they contribute together to the needs of the family and exercise parental authority over their children. The mutual duties of respect, fidelity, relief and assistance are enshrined in the Civil Code.
If you are a common-law partner or married to a Canadian or a permanent resident in Canada, your partner can sponsor you for permanent residence. While waiting for the processing of this application, you may be able to obtain a work permit. However, regardless of your marital status, you will need to prove the reality of your relationship through official documents and evidence of living together and of joint life projects.
Divorce
Only a divorce pronounced in a Quebec civil court can legally end the marriage. At the time of their divorce, the spouses must share the value of the family patrimony.
Warning:
Polygamy and polyandry are illegal in the province.
Useful links:
Marriage in Quebec - Department of Justice
Marriage in Quebec - Éducaloi
Civil Code of Quebec (see Book Tow «The family»)
Sponsor your spouse or common-law partner
