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Justice of the Peace
My name is Jacqueline McIntyre, and I am a provincially appointed Administrative Justice of the Peace in Nova Scotia with almost 20 years experience performing civil (non-religious) marriage ceremonies. I respect and honour all backgrounds and beliefs.
I was born and raised in Dominion, but moved to North Sydney in the fall of 2016.
Being a civil wedding officiant (JP) is something I find both joyous and fulfilling. I look forward to speaking with you to discuss your wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
What are your fees?
The set fee for a civil ceremony in the province of Nova Scotia is $200.
A rehearsal of the ceremony can be arranged for an additional fee of $100.
Additional expenses and mileage rates may apply outside the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Is a rehearsal necessary and how much does it cost?
That is a tough call. You should always walk through the ceremony with your wedding party. You may or may not need me to be there. (Much depends on place and size of wedding). There is an additional fee for a rehearsal - $100 as mentioned in the Fees above.
What types of Ceremonies do you have?
A JP wedding is simpler and shorter in comparison to a traditional church wedding. I usually provide four or five ceremonies for couples to choose from, which can be customized in any way that makes you feel comfortable.
The only part of the ceremonies that cannot be changed are the three mandatory sections, which are clearly outlined in each ceremony. These three sections cannot be edited, in any way, in order to meet the statutory requirements of the Marriage Act.
A civil wedding ceremony is one that contains no religious elements. A couple may choose to include some religious components in their civil ceremony, but they cannot be performed by me as a Justice of the Peace. This could be done by a family member or a friend.
Do I need a marriage license and where do I get one?
Couples must have a marriage license issued in Nova Scotia before they can be married in Nova Scotia.
As of May 1, 2018, the Marriage Licence will be valid for 3-months from the issue date.
Marriage licenses are issued for Vital Statistics by an authorized person called a Deputy Issuer or by Access Nova Scotia. The marriage license must be applied for in person.
As of May 1, 2018, each party to the intended marriage is required to apply, provide their own documents, and swear/affirm to their own information. Having both parties swear/affirm to their own information will reduce the risk of incorrect information being included on the Marriage Licence Application & Affidavit.
You must bring original or certified copies of the following for both parties:
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a signed piece of identification that shows proof of age and full name including given names;
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proof of marital status if either party is widowed or divorced.
A marriage license costs about $132.50, but you can check the current fee at
novascotia.ca/sns/access/vitalstats/vital-statistics-fees.asp
What do we bring to our meeting with our JP?
1. Your Marriage License. When you apply and receive your Marriage License, it will be in an envelope with other documentation. Bring all that to your meeting.
2. Answers. Your JP is going to ask you a series of questions in order to fill out the Registration of Marriage form that comes with your License. You and your partner may already know the answers, or you may have to do some detective work. It is nothing complicated, but your JP will need to know:
* Father’s surname and all given names;
* Mother’s maiden name and all given names; and
* Names and full addresses of your two witnesses.
MAKING YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING LEGAL WITHOUT THE HASTLE
Making Your Destination Wedding Legal without the Hassle
borrowed from an article at http://destinationweddingdetails.com/making-destination-wed… (but edited to suit the requirements in Nova Scotia)
Making your destination wedding legal, can be complicated and quite frankly a pain in the butt depending on where you’re getting married. The process can be overwhelming. But here’s the worst kept secret among destination wedding couples: You can have the destination wedding of your dreams without the legal hassles required in your destination.
Many couples ... have gotten legally married at home before or after their symbolic destination wedding. This post will guide you through all the different options for making your destination wedding legal, along with pros, cons, and tips for each.
GETTING LEGALLY MARRIED AT YOUR DESTINATION
Marriage requirements vary from country to country. And with a few exceptions, it’s usually complicated.
For example, to make your destination wedding legal in Mexico, you have to get a blood test and provide a lot of paperwork including original birth certificates that have to be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. If you’re divorced/widowed, be prepared to hand over even more documents. Not to mention that you have to then legalize your marriage license in your country of residence.
ADVANTAGES
Some couples like the idea of having their destination wedding, be the “real” and only wedding. This is really the only advantage I can think of.
DISADVANTAGES
The cost of translating documents and getting blood tests can range anywhere from $150-500 or more in some countries.
It takes extra time and effort to schedule blood tests away from home and get documents translated.
If you’re divorced, countries like Mexico and Costa Rica have a waiting period between your divorce and wedding.
TIPS
Research your destination’s marriage requirements on their Tourism Board’s website, or ask your wedding coordinator (or travel agent) as soon as you get engaged.
Make sure you have all your paperwork in order as far in advance of your destination wedding as possible.
Arrive in your destination a few days before the ceremony and confirm that they have everything they need to make your destination wedding legal.
GETTING LEGALLY MARRIED AT HOME
If you read the above and got a panic attack, chill out for a sec because you have options for making your destination wedding legal – at home.
You can skip all the paperwork, translations, notarization, and blood work, by doing the legal part the good ole’ fashion way – "in a court house or by a justice of the peace" in your home town.
All you have to do is get a marriage license at home, then go to "the local courthouse" or hire "a justice of the peace" who is allowed to perform legal ceremonies in your "Province". ...
You can also contact your "local courthouse or justice of the peace" who can guide you in this (much less complicated) process.
If you get legally married at home, you can then select a “symbolic wedding” package for your destination wedding. A symbolic wedding will look to all your guests exactly like a legal wedding. You will exchange vows, rings, etc. The only difference is that you will sign a paper of no legal significance (but that can be your little secret). As an added bonus, symbolic wedding packages are typically more affordable.
You can get legally married either before or after your destination wedding.
GETTING LEGALLY MARRIED BEFORE YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING
ADVANTAGES
No need for blood tests in a foreign country (I don’t know about you but just the thought, gives me the heebie jeebies)
You don’t have to translate any paperwork
There’s no waiting period to get your legal marriage certificate
It’s less complicated
It’s cheaper
Did I mention that it’s cheaper?
DISADVANTAGES
Your friends & family could feel duped into flying out for your wedding, only to find out later that you were already legally married (read my tips below for ways around this).
If you’re old fashioned and traditional, you might feel a little weird about having “two wedding dates” (read below for tips on how to get over it).
TIPS
Worried about how friends/family will react? Just keep your legal ceremony a secret. Unless you tell them, no one has to know that your destination wedding is not the legal one, because the entire ceremony will look exactly the same.
Feel weird about having two wedding dates? Celebrate your destination wedding as your official wedding date and just think of the legal ceremony as “legal paperwork”. You don’t even have to exchange rings ... at your legal ceremony but in Nova Scotia, there are three statutory requirements which are set forth in Section 23(2) of the Solemnization of Marriage Act that must be complied with).
DON'T CHANGE YOUR NAME!
This is a biggie. The name on your plane ticket and ID (passport or license) must match, in order to avoid any issues at the airport. I highly recommend changing the name on all your documents (passport/license) after you return home from your destination wedding.
GETTING LEGALLY MARRIED AFTER YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING
ADVANTAGES
It’s one less thing to worry about before your destination wedding, plus…All the same advantages of getting legally married before your destination wedding apply here as well.
DISADVANTAGES
If you’re having a catholic destination wedding, a legal marriage license is required before the ceremony. See here for more on Catholic Wedding requirements. http://catholicweddinghelp.com/wedding-p…/02-contacting.htm…
TIPS
If you’re having an at-home reception after your destination wedding, you can combine it with your legal ceremony for ease and budgeting reasons.
DISCLOSURE: None of the information provided on this page is meant as legal advice. This is simply basic information to get you started and show you that there are different options for legalizing your marriage when you are planning a destination wedding. You should consult with your local wedding planner regarding legal and religious marriage requirements. You can also consult your destination’s tourism board for more information on your specific destination’s requirements.
Contact
I look forward to speaking with you to discuss your wedding.