Anyone, regardless of where they now live, who needs proof of a domestic partnership which was registered  in Nova Scotia.

Note:  For information on how to contact another province or territory of Canada, please visit the Canadian Vital Statistics Offices page or you can contact The Service Nova Scotia Call Centre at (902)-424-5200.  (If outside metro Halifax, call 1-800-670-4357, toll-free in Nova Scotia only.).  We also have a list of United States Vital Statistics Offices.

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 apply by mail.

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

Note: this Certificate can be issued only AFTER the domestic partnership has been properly registered with the Vital Statistics office of the Province of Nova Scotia.  For more on that process, see Domestic Partnership Registration.

(a) The Short form certificate contains this information:

Full names of both partners
registration date & number, and
date issued.

(b) The Long form certificate is a certified photocopy of the Domestic Partner registration.  It contains all the information in (a) above, plus each partner's date of birth, age, and residence at the time of filing; and the signatures of both partners and their witness(es).  Because that is confidential information, this is a restricted document; all applications are subject to review by the Deputy Registrar General.

To get a Certificate of Domestic Partnership, you must know the full names of both partners; and the date the partnership was registered.  To get a Long form, you must also state your relationship to the partners.  The person seeking the certificate may be required to provide some identification.

Who qualifies to apply for a Domestic Partnership Certificate
Domestic Partnership Certificates may be released to:
a) Either of the partners of the domestic partnership;
b) A lawyer representing one of the partners of the domestic partnership;
c) To a third party upon the written consent of one of the partners.