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Part of Ordering certificates and documents

Order a marriage certificate or marriage document

The Government keeps a record of all registered marriages that take place in Alberta and can only issue documents for these marriages.

Overview

All certificates are certified extracts of the original Registration of Marriage.

Altering and/or laminating Vital Statistics documents makes them invalid.

Historical records

Anyone may apply for a copy of a person's Registration of Marriage through the Provincial Archives of Alberta after 75 years have passed from the date of marriage.

Types of documents issued

There are 3 kinds of marriage documents you can order:

  • Marriage Certificate
  • Photocopy of a Registration of Marriage
  • Marriage Search Letter

Marriage Certificate

This marriage certificate includes:

  • full names of the married couple
  • date of marriage
  • place of marriage
  • places of birth of the married couple
  • registration number
  • registration date
  • date issued

Sample: Marriage Certificate

Photocopy of a Registration of Marriage

This is a photocopy of the paper Registration of Marriage signed on the date of marriage by the couple, their witnesses and the person who performed the marriage.

A photocopy of a Registration of Marriage usually includes:

  • full names of the married couple
  • places of birth of the married couple
  • date of marriage
  • place of marriage
  • full names of the couple's parents
  • places of birth of the couple's parents
  • names of witnesses
  • name of the person who performed the marriage
  • registration number
  • registration date

A photocopy is generally used for genealogical, court or consulate purposes.

Marriage Search Letter

This is a letter that states whether or not there is a record with the applicant recorded as a spouse on a marriage registered with Vital Statistics; nothing more is stated in the letter.

A search is automatically made of all Vital Statistics’ marriage records.

  • Only one fee is charged for the search of all the marriage records.

Marriage search letters are most often required to substantiate to another country that the applicant has not married in Alberta.

Eligibility

The following eligibility requirements apply to:

  • copies of Registrations of Marriage that are not yet 75 years old
  • marriage certificates, regardless of the date of marriage
  • marriage search letters

Applicants for marriage certificates and certified copies of Registrations of Marriage

The following can order a marriage certificate and certified copy of a Registration of Marriage:

  1. the person (whose marriage is registered)
  2. a guardian, trustee or person with power of attorney for either of the persons in (1)
    • the applicant must be named in the guardianship order, trusteeship document or power of attorney document
    • a copy of the legal document must be attached to the application
  3. a person who is designated by a personal directive as an agent for either of the persons in (1)
    • a copy of the legal document must be attached to the application
  4. a person with an Alberta court order that states the person is eligible to make the application
    • the order must be issued by a court in Alberta
    • the applicant must be authorized to make the application in the court order
    • the court order must have been issued within 1 year of the application
    • a copy of the order must be attached to the application
  5. a lawyer for a person in (1) to (4), (6) to (9)
    • a copy of a valid Law Society card must be attached to the application (this is in addition to the legislated ID requirement)
    • a letter from the lawyer advising who their eligible client is must be attached to the application

Applicants for a marriage document for a deceased person

  1. next-of-kin to the deceased person in (1)
    • proof of death must be provided to show the applicant is eligible in this category
    • proof of relationship must be attached to the application
  2. the executor, personal representative or administrator for the estate of the deceased person in (1)
    • proof of death must be provided to show the applicant is eligible in this category
    • the applicant must be named in the will (or similar document)
    • a copy of the will (or similar document) must be attached to the application
  3. a relative of the deceased person in (1) when there are no living next-of-kin (described in (6) above)
    • proof of death must be provided to show the applicant is eligible in this category
    • proof of relationship must be attached to the application
  4. a Public Trustee for the estate of the deceased person in (1)
    • proof of death must be provided to show the applicant is eligible in this category
    • the applicant must be named in the trusteeship document
    • a copy of the trusteeship document must be attached to the application

Designated Agent

When an eligible applicant does not have acceptable ID to make the application, a designated agent may be used by a person in (1) to (3), (6) to (8).

Next-of-kin

  • Includes: parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, child, step-child, spouse, and partner.
  • Does not include: grandchild, grandparent, in-law, child of a sibling (niece/nephew), and relative.
  • Does not include any kind of ex; for example, ex-spouse, ex-partner, ex-step parent, ex-step child, etc.

A person who has been adopted or placed their child for adoption is not next of kin to biological relations.

Applicants for a marriage search letter

An applicant may only search themselves to determine if they are identified as a spouse on an Alberta marriage record.

Designated Agent

When an eligible applicant does not have acceptable ID to make the application, they may use a designated agent. 

Historic records

Anyone may apply for a copy of a person's historic Registration of Marriage through the Provincial Archives of Alberta after 75 years have passed from the date of marriage.

Cost

There is a $20 government fee for each marriage document ordered.
Registry agents, Registry Connect and AMA have additional service fees which will vary.

For the cost of a historic record through the Provincial Archives, contact the Provincial Archives of Alberta.

How to apply

Ordering a marriage document from within Alberta

Step 1. Complete the applicable application form

Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. For help opening the forms, contact PDF form technical support.

Application for Marriage Documents

Application for Marriage Search Letters

Step 2. Drop off the application form

Take the completed application and your acceptable ID to a registry agent.

Applications sent directly to Vital Statistics will not be processed.

Ordering a marriage document from outside Alberta

Step 1. Complete the applicable application form

Application for Marriage Documents

Application for Marriage Search Letters

Step 2. Complete the statutory declaration form

Take the Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity and your acceptable ID to a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths.

Complete the Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity in front of a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths.

Step 3. Mail the application and statutory declaration form

Mail the original completed Application for Marriage Documents form and the original completed Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity form to one of the following:

Photocopies and faxes are not accepted.

Applications sent directly to Vital Statistics will not be processed.

After you apply

Applications received through a registry agent, AMA or Registry Connect (as is applicable) are sent to Vital Statistics for processing. Under normal circumstances, when the marriage is registered and the application has been completed correctly, the application is processed by Vital Statistics within 3 business days of its receipt. This 3-day period does not include mailing/delivery time.

If information is missing or there are any discrepancies in information, your application may be delayed.

Delivery options for marriage documents

  • By mail to the address provided on the application form – no extra charge.
  • To the registry agent office or AMA (as is applicable) if they offer call box service. Arrangements must be made with them – a service fee may apply.

Documents cannot be picked up without acceptable ID. Documents will only be released to the person who applied for them. If someone is picking up your document on your behalf, you must provide them with a written letter of authorization and they must provide their own acceptable ID. If you have used a Designated Agent, they will also require a letter of authorization to pick up your document. There are no exceptions.

Contact

Connect with the Service Alberta Contact Centre:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-7013 (Edmonton and area)
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-4225

Email: [email protected]

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