Hours:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Holidays)

How to apply

1) You can apply at the Vital Statistics office in Halifax (see address above).  This is the ONLY way to get a certificate immediately.

2) You can submit your application on-line; it will be processed within the next 10 business days, and then the certificate will be mailed to you.  (You need a Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card to apply on-line.)

3) You can apply by mail.

4) You can apply at any Access Nova Scotia Centre, or any Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

A convenient application form is available.  To get one:

1) download a form for a Birth Certificate; Marriage Certificate or Death Certificate; or 
2) call the number listed above and press 2 to talk to a customer service representative, who can have one mailed to you; or 
3) write or fax the Vital Statistics office listed above; or 
4) visit the Vital Statistics office in Halifax, or any Access Nova Scotia Centre, or any Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

The information you need to provide is explained under Additional Information, below.

1) mail or deliver it to the Vital Statistics office in Halifax (see address above);

2) take it to any Access Nova Scotia Centre or Registry of Motor Vehicles office.

In case of emergency, the certificate can be sent by courier to the applicant.  There is an additional charge of $20 for this service.

All other applications:  10 business days from the time the application reaches the Halifax office, plus additional days for postal delivery

Payment:  

Payment at the Vital Statistics office:  cash, Interac debit card, Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card, or cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance.

Payment by Mail:  Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card or by cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance

Payment on-line or by fax:  Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card.

Note:  you can make payment on-line for previous requests, using "payment on account"

1. Searches
   All certificate prices include a three-year search.

   A three-year search may be requested without a certificate (confirmation of event only) for $5.45  

   The search fee for genealogy is $16.30 for the first-three year period and $10.90 for any three-year period thereafter. Please note, genealogy requests are not processed at the counter.

2. Restrictions:  Release of Long Form Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates are subject to restrictions as set out in the Vital Statistics Act.
    
3. All certificates are issued in accordance with information on file and cannot be returned for refund.

a) The short form marriage certificate contains this information:

First and last name (Given name and Surname) of both spouses
date and place of marriage
registration date & number, and
date issued.

(b) The Long form (detailed) certificate is a certified photocopy of the marriage registration.  It contains all the information in (a) above, plus (for each spouse): marital status; religion; birth date and birthplace; both their father's and mother's names and birthplaces; residence before marriage; signatures of both parties to the marriage and witnesses; and the certification of the person who officiated at the wedding.  Because that is confidential information, this is a restricted document; all applications are subject to review by the Deputy Registrar General.

To get a Marriage Certificate, you must know: full names both parties to the marriage and the date and place of marriage.  To apply for a Long form (detailed), you must also state your relationship to the married persons.  The Long form (detailed) certificate can usually be issued so long as the information listed by the applicant is complete and agrees with the information on file.  Also, the person seeking the certificate may be required to provide some identification.

Who qualifies to apply for a Marriage Certificate
Short Form Marriage Certificates may be released to any person who has a valid reason for requiring the document.
Long Form (detailed) / Certified copies may be released to:
a) Either party to the marriage;
b) A lawyer representing one of the parties to the marriage in a divorce action; or
c) To a third party upon the written consent of one of the parties.