Register a marriage

If you were married in the Northwest Territories, the marriage must be registered so it becomes a valid legal record. This page explains how a marriage that took place in the Northwest Territories is registered, who completes the registration, and when fees apply.

During the ceremony:

• Each person getting married must sign their section of the Marriage Registration Statement.
• Both witnesses must sign their required sections.
• The officiating cleric or marriage commissioner completes the remaining parts of the form. 

This form creates the official legal record of your marriage.

After the ceremony, the officiant is responsible for:

• Confirming the Marriage Registration Statement is complete.
• Signing the marriage licence
• Sending the completed Marriage Registration Statement to the Registrar General of Vital Statistics for registration. 

You do not need to submit the form yourself.

Vital Statistics does not send a confirmation when the Marriage Registration Statement is received. They will contact the officiant if information is missing or unclear.

Once the Registrar General receives the Marriage Registration Statement, they:

• Review the information for accuracy.
• Follow up with the officiant if anything is missing or unclear.

Register the marriage and permanently file the record. 

• There is no fee to register a marriage within one year of the marriage date.
• The fee is $26 to register a marriage more than one year after the marriage date.