Before your civil union ceremony

Before your civil union ceremony, you and your intended spouse must complete a number of formalities, some with your officiant, such as the court clerk.

These steps are in addition to everything else you have to do, such as sending out invitations, choosing a caterer and reserving and decorating the room.

If you and your intended spouse want a court clerk to solemnize your civil union, you must make an appointment for an interview.

Before the interview, you must organize the documents in your file so that the clerk can:

• verify your identity; 
• ensure that your civil union complies with the legal conditions.

You should also:

• select your witness for the interview; 
• ask about the fee for the solemnization of a civil union ; 
• decide, while ensuring that you meet the conditions of validity:
  • where and when your civil union ceremony will take place; 
  • what elements the ceremony will contain.

If you and your intended spouse choose an officiant other than a court clerk, you must ask the officiant what formalities you need to complete.