In Nova Scotia, civil wedding ceremonies can be performed by:

• a Judge of the Family Court or Provincial Court
• a Justice of the Supreme Court
• an Administrative Justice of the Peace

If you would like your ceremony to be held in your home or some other location that is special to you, contact a local Administrative Justice of the Peace.

Administrative Justices of the Peace are listed by county but are authorized to perform ceremonies anywhere in the province of Nova Scotia.

Justices of the Peace will do their best to accommodate individual preferences to ensure that your important day is a memorable one. You should discuss your specific wishes and preferences for your wedding day with the Administrative Justice of the Peace who will be performing the ceremony beforehand.

Cost for a civil wedding

The cost for a civil wedding is $200. The cost for a wedding rehearsal (if required) is $100. The Administrative Justices of the Peace can also bill for expenses, if applicable, for mileage, parking and tolls.

Applications and recruitment

Review the Civil Weddings Program Fact Sheet (PDF) for information about application requirements, fees and timelines.

Applications for single wedding appointments will be considered provided applications are made at a minimum of 4 months prior to the date of the ceremony.

Administrative Justice of the Peace Single Wedding Application (PDF)

Administrative Justice of the Peace Re-Appointment Application (PDF)

Apply to become an Administrative Justice of the Peace

Court Services is accepting applications for the role of Term Administrative Justices of the Peace. People in this role are appointed as civil officiants by the Minister of Justice for a term of up to 5 years. They perform civil wedding ceremonies under the Marriage Act and complete required legal documents under the Vital Statistics Act.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this position, you must:

• be 19 years of age or older
• be a resident of Nova Scotia
• be fluent in English (both spoken and written)
• have a clean criminal record

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the role include:

• perform Administrative Justice of the Peace duties in accordance with applicable policies and legislation
• represent Nova Scotia professionally
• handle difficult and sensitive situations
• provide flexible and inclusive marriage ceremonies
• provide services fairly and without discrimination of language, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, family status, etc.

Assets

Other assets include:

• fluency in other languages, both spoken and written
• strong interpersonal skills
• strong oral presentation skills and confidence speaking in front of large groups
• access to reliable transportation
• several years of paid or volunteer work, or exceptional qualifications that include relevant life experience
• strong organizational and time-management skills

Diversity and inclusion

The Civil Weddings Program aims to reflect the diversity of the people it serves. Applications are welcome from Indigenous people, African Nova Scotians and other racially visible people, and people with disabilities. Members of these equity groups are encouraged to self-identify in their application.

How to apply

Email civilweddings@novascotia.ca to request an application form from the Civil Weddings Program Coordinator. Applications will be accepted until midnight on 30 November 2026.

Marriage licences

You must obtain a marriage licence prior to your wedding. The marriage licence must be given to the person officiating at the ceremony, at least 3 days prior to the ceremony. Marriage licences are not issued by the courts. A list of where marriage licences can be obtained is available at courthouses or by visiting the Vital Statistics webpage.

Contact

If you have any questions about the civil wedding program, email civilweddings@novascotia.ca.