Marriage Registrations

pre-1864; 1864-ca.1912; ca.1912-1930; and 1931-present

Civil registration of marriages in Nova Scotia was formalized in 1864 and has continued since, although compliance was not universal throughout the province until the early 20th century.

Marriage registrations normally include the following information for both the bride and groom, although many details will be missing from the early records:

• place of marriage
• date of marriage
• given name and surname
• trade or profession
• marital status
• age
• religious denomination
• place of residence
• place of birth
• name of parents
• place of birth (or residence) for parents

Pre-1864

• Civil registration of marriages was not mandatory. Bonds, indicating the absence of legal impediments to marriage, were sometimes completed before applying for a licence. Very little information was required from either the prospective bride or groom, and the existence of a bond indicates only that a marriage was intended—the ceremony may or may not have taken place. All surviving bonds (1763-1864) are available at NSARM on microfilm and can be examined during regular business hours.

• Bonds for 1763 to 1849 are now available online in the Marriage Bonds database.

• Researchers working at NSARM can print out copies of the original bonds using onsite microfilm reader/printers. Staff are available to assist.

• Researchers unable to visit the Archives in person may purchase photocopies of these bonds. Please review our Order Information and Fee Schedule, then complete our Order Form.

1864-ca.1912 [depending on county; see below]

• Records (approximately 135, 700 entries) for the years 1864-1877 alone are open and can be examined at NSARM during all regular business hours. Records are accessed via indexes (on microfilm) which provide information linking to the original registrations or 'marriage slips' (also on microfilm). Researchers can print out copies of these records using onsite microfilm reader/printers. Staff are available to assist.

• Researchers unable to visit the Archives in person may purchase photocopies of these registrations. Please review our Order Information and Fee Schedule, then complete our Order Form.

ca.1912-1930 [depending on county; see below]

• Records have been transferred to NSARM and are currently being microfilmed to archival quality standards to ensure their security and permanent preservation. They are not yet available for direct public access and use. Further information will be posted as NSARM moves towards full public access.

• In the meantime all researchers, including those unable to visit the Archives in person, may purchase photocopies of these registrations. Please review our Order Information and Fee Schedule, then complete our Order Form.

1931-present

• Records remain under the control of Vital Statistics, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Please contact them for further assistance.

Please Note

• Marriage registrations are filed by the county in which the marriage occurred and there are eighteen counties in Nova Scotia (click here for a map showing the county divisions).

• Researchers must know the community or county of residence before attempting to search for / order a record.

• Because of record-keeping anomalies when the Deputy Registrar General's office was inaugurated in 1908, there are discrepancies in the cut-over dates for individual counties. This will become seamless as full public access is developed for the post-1908 records; in the meantime, please refer to the chart below to determine if the records are fully open, or partially closed (i.e. being microfilmed, but photocopies may be ordered).