Brampton couples who have been patiently waiting to get their marriage licenses may do so now.
According to the city, they are now issuing marriage licences by appointment on an urgent or compassionate basis.
The city temporarily stopped issuing marriage licenses as they shut facilities since March 16. The closure was due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to protect the health and safety of staff and residents.
Couples can now send requests for a marriage license to marriage.licence@brampton.ca. Couples need to complete the Marriage Licence Application Screening Questions form. Upon reviewing the form, the city will then determine if the marriage licence is needed on an urgent or compassionate basis. Couples will then be asked to submit the marriage licence application, identification documentation for both applicants, divorce certificate(s) (if applicable) and translation document(s) (if applicable) for pre-approval through a secured link.
Requests will then be vetted by an online application process. Urgent or compassionate requirements include significant illness or health reasons, temporary military leave, an urgent need for immigration purposes, a front-line worker, international adoption will not proceed or any other compassionate reasons determined by the city clerk. The city will prioritize wedding ceremonies set to take place before the end of July 2020.
City staff will then schedule an appointment. According to the city, appointments will be made two days a week to limit the number of visitors to facilities while they are still closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-qualification review and consideration of marriage licence applications and required documentation will occur on Mondays and Tuesdays.
However, civil ceremonies are still cancelled at this time.
Brampton couples can also visit other municipalities that have started to issue marriage licences with limited restrictions in place. Couples can contact cityclerksoffice@brampton.ca who may be able to provide a listing of municipalities currently offering these services.
The Bramptonian 