MARRIAGE / CIVIL UNION

THE NOTARY AND THE CELEBRATION OF CIVIL MARRIAGE

For many, a person's commitment to another takes concrete form in the celebration of a marriage, civil or religious, or, since June 2002, in the celebration of a civil union.

Whether it takes place in a church, in a courthouse or elsewhere, this celebration is of great importance since it is an opportunity for the concerned couple to solemnly and publicly declare that they want to take themselves for spouses.

But the celebration of a marriage is much more than a ceremony. In fact, a good number of rules govern the validity of a marriage.

THE CELEBRATING NOTARY

WHEN TWO PEOPLE WANT TO MARRY CIVILLY, THEY MUST FIRST CHOOSE A COMPETENT CELEBRANT.

This is an essential condition for the validity of the marriage.

Since 2002, couples have been able to formalize their mutual commitment through a civil marriage celebrated before a notary.

The provisions of the Civil Code of Quebec devoted to the solemnization of marriage impose on celebrants many responsibilities, some of which are already familiar to notaries, such as the obligation to verify the identity of the parties and that of ensuring their consent. By virtue of his functions, the notary, public officer and auxiliary of justice, is the best suited professional to perform this function of celebrant.

THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW