Marriage Licensing 

Couples planning to marry in Ontario can get their marriage license through the Town of Bancroft.

Save time and fill out the application form ahead of time, and bring it with you when you apply for your marriage license. The form must be complete, signed by both parties to the marriage, and provide proper identification as required (see ID requirements below).

A license is valid anywhere in Ontario for 90 days from the date of issue. There is no waiting period between the date your license is issued to your date of marriage.

Fee

$150.00 payable when the licensed is issued. Please allow up to 5 business days for processing of your license application.

Three Month Validity

Once issued, a Marriage License is valid for three months and may be used at any location within the Province of Ontario.

Both Signatures Required

The Marriage License Application form must be signed by both parties.

Identification Required

Both parties must provide identification.

Accepted identification is either:

• A valid passport

OR one of the following (along with the other options below):

• An original birth certificate and any change of name certificates
• A record of Immigrant Landing
• A Canadian Citizenship Card
• A Permanent Resident Card

AND one these sources of photo ID:

• BYID age of majority
• Valid Driver’s License
• Ontario Photo ID card

Obtaining a license when one party is absent:

Either applicant may submit the completed application form to the Town of Bancroft in order to obtain the Marriage License, provided that they present the required identification for both parties.  

Both applicants must have their signatures witnessed at either application drop off, or when the license is ready for pick up. 

If One or Both Parties are Divorced

Applicants who have been divorced within Canada are required to provide original or a court-certified copy of one of the three documents:

• The final decree
• The final judgment
• A certificate of divorce

Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56

Purposes

1 The purposes of this Act are,

(a)  to provide a right of access to information under the control of institutions in accordance with the principles that,

(i)  information should be available to the public,

(ii)  necessary exemptions from the right of access should be limited and specific, and

(iii)  decisions on the disclosure of information should be reviewed independently of the institution controlling the information; and

(b)  to protect the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by institutions and to provide individuals with a right of access to that information.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56, s. 1.

How to submit an FOI request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

1. Complete the Access or Correction Request form located here

   https://bancroft.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/40713/

    

   Tips:

   • Adding scope to your request such as specific dates, names, search terms, etc., helps to facilitate your request more effectively and may cut down on administrative fee associated with the search.

      

2. There is a mandatory $5.00 application fee – cash or cheque made payable to the “Town of Bancroft”.

    

3. You can mail your application form and $5.00 application fee to the Clerk’s Office or drop it off in person to the Clerk’s Office.

Fees:

Accessing Municipal Records

Municipalities will often routinely disclosure records and information to the public.  Individuals are encouraged to contact the program you believe has custody or control of the records you are seeking to see if the information can be disclosed to you informally.

A formal request may be required when:

• You are requesting access to records to which a mandatory exemption to disclosure may apply, such records containing another individual’s personal information or confidential information provided by other businesses of governing agencies.
• You are requesting access to records where a discretionary exemption under MFIPPA is applicable, such as records subject to solicitor-client privilege, records relating to law enforcement investigations, etc.
• You are requesting access to a voluminous amount of information.

Processing Time for Requests:

• 30 calendar days from the day the Municipality receives both your written request and $5.00 application fee.
• Where voluminous records are requested an extension of the 30-day limit may be issued and you will be advised accordingly.
• If a third-party notice is required, the 30-day time limit starts from the day the notice is sent to the third party.
• If consultations are required with persons outside of the Municipality, a notice of extension to the 30 days may be issued for the amount of time needed for the consultations to take place; you will be advised accordingly.

Commissioner for Taking Affidavits

The Commissioner For Taking Affidavits Act (provincial) designates selected municipal officials as commissioners for taking affidavits. Provision of this service is not always available and the municipal official’s designation as commissioner for taking affidavits may be limited to specific purposes. Those requiring the service of a commissioner are encouraged to call prior to attending the Town Hall to ensure that a municipal official is available.

What you will need:
1.       The deponent(s) (person swearing the affidavit) must appear and sign the affidavit in front of the commissioner;
2.       You will be required to produce two pieces of government identification (one (1) with a photo and signature, such as a valid driver's license);
3.       The fee for this service varies depending on the document and the number of pages that require the commissioner’s signature. You can find the fee in our Comprehensive Fee Schedule.

Rules for Taking Affidavits
1.       An affidavit must be presented; the commissioner will not create or edit the affidavit.
2.       If you have questions or need assistance completing the affidavit document, you should contact the party/agency that asked you to complete the form.
3.       The commissioner for taking affidavits cannot counsel or assist deponents with completing the affidavit document.
4.       All information on the affidavit must be filled in before it is sworn and any enclosures mentioned must be attached.
5.       The deponent(s) must have read and understood the contents of the affidavit and the deponent(s) will be asked to swear or declare that the information is correct before signing the document and must sign it in front of the commissioner.

What if the document specifically requests a Notary Public?
The Town of Bancroft does not offer Notary Public services. Any document that requires the signature of a Notary Public will be referred to a lawyer, as Commissioners do not possess the same signing authority and are therefore unable to sign documents requiring a Notary Public signature.

 What types of documents can be commissioned?

The Commissioner may sign documents related, but not limited to, the following:
1.       Travel consent letters;
2.       Pension documents;
3.       Vehicle transfer forms;
4.       Change of ownership forms;
6.       Canadian Government related forms;
7.       Town of Bancroft related documents e.g.) Planning Department;
8.       Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief;
9.       Financial Institution forms. 

Clarification of the type of affidavits that will be signed can be directed to the Clerks Department.

What do you need to bring?

Anyone requiring commissioning services must provide at least one piece of valid Canadian government issued photo identification (e.g. Current drivers license or passport). All affidavits presented for commissioning must be the entire document and must be signed in the presence of a Commissioner. If the document has already been signed, the person will be asked to sign a second time in front of the Commissioner.

What services are not provided?

The Commissioner is not responsible for any content of the document and does not provide legal advice, preparation or editing of affidavits, assistance, counselling or interpretation services to the testifier when completing their documents and shall not commission documents that are in any other language(s) other than English, as the information being sworn cannot be validated.

Any questions or needed assistance in completing the affidavit document should be directed to the agency or party that has requested the form(s).

Is the Commissioner required to sign presented documents?

It is at the discretion of the individual Commissioner whether or not they choose to sign the document. If a Commissioner is uncomfortable about the identity of the person requesting the service, or the content of the documents for any reason, the Commissioner may refuse to sign the document. 

Special Occasion Permits are for the sale and service of alcohol at special occasions, such as:

• Weddings
• Charity fundraisers
• Receptions

Special Occasion Permits are issued through select Liquor Control Board Ontario (LCBO) stores. 

In certain circumstances, the Clerk and other town departments are advised of the application and details of the event.  Please review the application requirements carefully by visiting https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/special-occasion-permits.

For Special Occasion Permits, it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the municipality, police, fire, and public health regarding their event.

Written notice should include:

• Your name
• Phone number & email
• Type of event (generally wedding, stag and doe, charity fundraiser, reception, etc.)
• Start date and end date
• Start time and end time
• Event type (public or private)
• Brief description of the event

Contact information for written notice submissions:

The Corporation of the Town of Bancroft

Attn: Amber Wannamaker, Clerk

8 Hastings Heritage Way

P.O. Box 790

Bancroft, Ontario

K0L 1C0

[email protected]

The Bancroft Fire Department

Attn: Pat Hoover, Fire Chief

33 Chemaushgon Road

Box 790

Bancroft, Ontario

K0L 1C0

[email protected]

Ontario Provincial Police – Bancroft

64 Monck Road

Bancroft, Ontario

K0L 1C0

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

1M Manor Lane

Bancroft, Ontario

K0L 1C0

**Ensure that you retain copies of your letters sent to the above, as the AGCO may require you (the permit holder) to include them with your application or make them available upon request**

Information collected will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection Act for the purpose of documenting your Special Occasion Permit notification.  Please contact the Clerk’s Department at [email protected] or 613-332-3331 Ext.208 if you require any assistance.