Are you wondering if a marriage license is critical? In this article, lawyer Michael Cochrane discusses how necessary marriage licenses are. Please note this is different than a marriage agreement, commonly known as a prenup. In places like British Columbia, you get your marriage license from London Drugs for some reason.
“Some interesting problems can arise for couples who have participated in religious marriage ceremonies in Ontario, and some may find out they’re not legally married after all, Toronto lawyer Michael Cochrane writes in Advocate Daily.”
Let’s talk about something that many people overlook until it’s too late: marriage licenses. You might be thinking, “Yeah, yeah, it’s just a piece of paper,” but trust me, it’s so much more than that.
Lawyer Michael Cochrane recently laid it out in an article, and honestly, it’s wild how many people get tripped up by this. First, let’s clear up a common mix-up: a marriage license is not the same as a prenup. A prenup is about protecting assets and setting up rules if things go sideways. A marriage license, on the other hand, is your official ticket to being recognized as legally married. No license? No marriage in the eyes of the law. So you can see why a marriage license is critical.
Here’s where it gets tricky. Apparently, in some places—like British Columbia—you can walk into London Drugs to grab your marriage license. Yeah, you read that right. You can pick up what legally binds your lives together right after buying a pack of gum and some Tylenol. It’s oddly casual for something important, but that’s Canada for you.
Elaborate religious ceremonies
Now, here’s the kicker. Cochrane points out that some couples in Ontario (and probably other places, too) have gone through beautiful, elaborate religious ceremonies only to find out later that they aren’t legally married.
How does that even happen? The religious ceremony doesn’t automatically make it official unless the province recognizes it. If you skip getting your marriage license and having it properly registered, you’re just throwing a costly party.
And let’s be honest: most people probably don’t even realize this until something forces them to—like trying to file taxes, applying for spousal benefits, or, unfortunately, going through a breakup and realizing there’s no legal union to dissolve. Can you imagine thinking you’ve been married for years only to find out it’s not legit? That’s a level of awkwardness I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Another thing Cochrane highlights is that this can lead to messy situations. Let’s say you’ve been married, sharing finances, buying property, and maybe even raising kids. If you’re not legally married, the laws around who gets what (or who owes what) might not determine how you think. It can throw a wrench into everything from dividing assets to custody arrangements.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Double-check your marriage situation, especially if you went through a religious ceremony. Make sure all the paperwork is squared away because “we thought it was handled” isn’t going to cut it in court.
Getting a marriage license
Honestly, though, the fact that people can miss this step isn’t entirely their fault. The process can be confusing, and there’s often this assumption that the religious or cultural aspects automatically cover the legal ones. Spoiler alert: they don’t. Even in places where the two are closely tied, it’s worth ensuring you’ve done everything by the book.
Oh, and here’s another thought—why is it that in some places, getting a marriage license is as casual as running errands? Shouldn’t there be a bit more gravitas to the process? It feels weird that you can grab your marriage license at the same place you pick up shampoo and batteries. Maybe that’s just me, but it does make you wonder how seriously the system takes it if that’s how it’s set up.
Enter into a legal union
For those of you reading this who are already married, how did you handle the process? Was it straightforward, or did you run into any weird hurdles? And for anyone planning a wedding, let this be your PSA: Don’t skip the paperwork. It’s not the most romantic part of the process, but it’s necessary.
A marriage license is what turns your relationship into a legal union. Without it, you’re just playing house in the eyes of the law. So, whether you’re about to tie the knot or think you already did, it’s worth taking a few minutes to double-check everything. Trust me, you don’t want to be the person finding out you’re not legally married because you skipped a step—or assumed someone else handled it.
So, what’s your take? Do you now agree that a marriage license is critical? Does this process need to be more precise, or do you think it’s on the couples to figure it out? Share your stories—I feel like there are probably some wild ones out there.
