Vital Statistics

Obtaining a Marriage Licence

Before you can be married in Alberta, you must obtain Marriage Licence. This gives you the legal right to get married anywhere within the Province of Alberta & at any time within three months from the date the licence was issued.

Requirements for obtaining a marriage licence:

Both parties wishing to marry must apply for their marriage licence together.

Both parties must be at least 18 years old, if younger than 18, parental consent is required.

Both parties must provide 2 pieces of valid identification.

Both parties must provide their parents' full names and birth places.

Both parties must be currently unmarried.

If either party is divorced, proof that the divorce is final such as a Certificate of Divorce or a Decree Absolute is required.

The parties wishing to marry cannot be related by whole blood, half blood or adoption. For example, you may not marry your sibling, parent, child, grandparent or grandchild.

If either party does not speak English, it is their responsibility to provide a certified interpreter who is over 18 years old and fluent in both English and the language requiring translation.

Marriage Certificates

If you wish to take the last name of your spouse or wish to have a combination of the two, you may be required to supply a marriage certificate from Vital Statistics. Taxation offices, Banks, credit card companies etc. may also require a marriage certificate as proof that you and your partner are married.

Who can apply for a marriage certificate:

A person whose name is on the marriage registration.

A person with authorization in writing from a person whose marriage is registered.

A legal representative who requires it during the course of official duties. Proof of occupation is required.

Any person with a court order. Court document required.

An adult next of kin may apply when a party to the marriage is deceased.

The executor of an estate when either party to the marriage is deceased.

A person with power of attorney, guardian or trustee for a person whose marriage is registered as established by court documents. Proof is required.

Birth Certificates

An Alberta birth certificate or photocopy of a registration of birth can be ordered by Ardiel Agencies from Vital Statistics.

Birth Certificates contain the birth date, place of birth, full legal name of the child & the legal names of the parents.

Photocopy of a registration of birth this is the form completed by the parents at the hospital at the time of birth.

Who can apply for a Birth Certificate and / or Photocopy of a Registration

The person whose name is on the registration of birth.

The parent(s) of the person as established by registration documents or by court documents.

A guardian, trustee, or person with power of attorney as established by court documents. Proof is required.

A person with an order from the court. Court document is required.

A person adopting may apply for a child’s biological birth certificate. Proof of a pending adoption is required.

A legal representative for an eligible applicant or when required for official duties. Proof is required.

A person who requires it to comply with the Parentage and Maintenance Act or Child Welfare Act. Proof is required..

Any adult next-of-kin of a person whose birth is registered when that person is deceased.

The executor of an estate, when the person whose birth is registered is deceased. Proof is required.

An Ex-spouse of the person named on the birth registration is only eligible to obtain a “Confirmation Letter” verifying birth details.

Death Certificates

Death certificates can be ordered through Ardiel Agencies and are issued using the information from the original Registration of Death, completed at the time of death and for events that occurred in Alberta.

There are 3 kinds of death documents that are available for order.

Certified large size Certificate of Death.

Photocopy of a Registration of Death.

Photocopy of a Medical Certificate of Death.

Who can apply?

An adult next-of-kin of the deceased person. (Common-law included).

A guardian, trustee, or person with power of attorney, as established by court documents. Proof is required.

A person with written authorization from an adult next-of-kin to the deceased whose death is registered.

A legal representative for an eligible applicant or who requires it for official duties. Proof is required.

An executor of the deceased person's estate.

A funeral home representative.

An organization that provides benefits to the deceased persons' survivors or beneficiaries.

Any person with an order from the court. Court document required.

An ex-spouse of the deceased at the discretion of the Director of Vital Statistics.

Legal Name Changes

To change your name legally, you must submit an application to Vital Statistics. Come into Ardiel Agencies and pick up the required application. As part of the process, fingerprints must also be submitted. You will need to go to the RCMP for fingerprinting. There is a $25.00 fee for fingerprinting form. If the person whose name is being changed is under 18, the fingerprint form does not have to be completed.

To legally change your name, you must be:

18 years of age or older.

A resident of the Province of Alberta.

Applying to change one or more of the following:

18 years of age or older.
Current spouse or partner's name.
Their child or ward's name.

It is NOT possible to change:

The name of a deceased person. 

Their spouse or partner's child's name when the applicant is not the other parent, by birth or adoption, of the child or if the applicant does not have custody or legal guardianship of the child..