Marrying a divorced American in Canada

[Karleeh]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, and I'm not quite sure where to post my question.

My fiancé have been together over two years and we currently have a baby together. He's an American citizen and he's still working and living in America. I'm a Canadian citizen and still living in Canada.

We want to get married and trying to figure out what's our best option. I've read there's many documents that he needs to provide in order to get married here in Ontario. We don't want to spend lots of money on a lawyer just to get a legal opinion letter. I'm just wondering if it will be easier getting eloped across the boarder in America? Will the marriage be legal and recognized in Canada? We were also thinking of getting married in Quebec since we have friends there, but I'm unsure if we still need to provide those documents.

TIA.

 

[Leon]

As far as I know, he just needs his birth certificate, ID (Passport) and his divorce papers in order to get married. Getting married in the US will work too.

 

[Bs65]

If marrying in Quebec is there not some strange rule about both parties keeping their own family or birth names so the to be wife does not take the husbands name. May not be a concern and assume if not residing in Quebec the paperwork can be sorted later if chosing to but something to look into.

 

[Karleeh]

As far as I know, he just needs his birth certificate, ID (Passport) and his divorce papers in order to get married. Getting married in the US will work too.

I read online we need to hire a lawyer to do a legal opinion document and a sole responsibility thing too.

 

[scylla]

As far as I know, he just needs his birth certificate, ID (Passport) and his divorce papers in order to get married. Getting married in the US will work too.

Unfortunately it's not that simple if the non-Canadian is divorced. In that case you first need to get a legal opinion letter confirming the divorce is recognized in Ontario and you are free to marry. Having said that, it doesn't take very much time or cost very much money.

 

[jess143]

I'm an American who was divorced in the US prior to marrying my Canadian spouse. I did have to obtain a legal opinion letter but it wasn't as complicated as it sounds. All you do is present the divorce decree to an attorney who will give you a letter stating that you are free to marry in Ontario. I think it cost us around $200. You're just paying for a document and less than an hour of the lawyer's time. It seemed silly to pay $200 for approximately 15 minutes of work in a meeting, but I think that would cost less than some of the other options.

Once you have your letter you mail that in, receive an Ontario authorization to marry, and use that to get your marriage license.

 

[Snowisland]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, and I'm not quite sure where to post my question.

My fiancé have been together over two years and we currently have a baby together. He's an American citizen and he's still working and living in America. I'm a Canadian citizen and still living in Canada.

We want to get married and trying to figure out what's our best option. I've read there's many documents that he needs to provide in order to get married here in Ontario. We don't want to spend lots of money on a lawyer just to get a legal opinion letter. I'm just wondering if it will be easier getting eloped across the boarder in America? Will the marriage be legal and recognized in Canada? We were also thinking of getting married in Quebec since we have friends there, but I'm unsure if we still need to provide those documents.

TIA.

I am American who was divorced and married Canadian in BC. I showed my divorce paper and birth certificate and got the marriage license. We married with no problem. Nothing else asked for on PR application and I landed last week. But, as said, this was in BC.

 

[scylla]

I am American who was divorced and married Canadian in BC. I showed my divorce paper and birth certificate and got the marriage license. We married with no problem. Nothing else asked for on PR application and I landed last week. But, as said, this was in BC.

Yep - different rules in Ontario. You can't do it without a lawyer.