Affidavit of Single Status
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What is an Affidavit of Single Status ?
In Ontario, Canada, an Affidavit of Single Status is a legal document that confirms an individual's unmarried or single status. It's used to provide evidence or proof of a person's marital status when required by certain institutions, authorities, or processes. It typically includes the following information:
- Personal Information: The document includes the individual's full name, date of birth, address, and other identifying details.
- Marital Status Declaration: The individual declares under oath or affirmation that they are currently single and not married to anyone.
- Previous Marriages: If applicable, the affidavit may also mention if the individual has been previously married and provide details such as the date, place, and manner in which the previous marriage ended (e.g., divorce, death).
- Witnesses: The affidavit may require the signatures of one or more witnesses who can attest to the individual's single status. The witnesses must be adults and not have any personal interest in the individual's marital status.
It's important to note that an Affidavit of Single Status may have specific requirements or formats depending on the purpose for which it is being used. Some common instances where it may be requested include:
- International marriages: When planning to marry in a foreign country, the local authorities or embassy/consulate of that country may require an Affidavit of Single Status as part of the marriage registration process. This affidavit is used to confirm that the individual is not currently married and eligible to marry according to their home country's laws.
- Immigration applications: In certain immigration applications, such as spousal sponsorship or fiancé(e) visa applications, an Affidavit of Single Status may be required to establish the marital status of the sponsoring or sponsored individual. This helps demonstrate that the individual is not currently married and is eligible for the immigration process.
- Legal proceedings: In legal proceedings related to family law matters, such as divorce or child custody cases, an Affidavit of Single Status may be used to provide evidence of an individual's unmarried status. This can be important for establishing certain legal rights and obligations.
- Beneficiary designations: When designating beneficiaries for certain financial or insurance-related matters, an Affidavit of Single Status may be requested to confirm that the individual is unmarried and eligible to make such designations.
Types of Single Status Documents Available
There are three types of documents available to support your single status:
- Single Status Declaration: It's a written statement where you declare your single status. Typically prepared by yourself and then notarized by a Canadian Notary Public. The declaration usually includes your full name, date of birth, address, and a statement confirming that you are currently single and not married to anyone. The purpose of this document is to provide a sworn statement of your marital status that can be used as proof when required.
- Provincial Marriage Search: A Provincial Marriage Search is a document that can be obtained from the province in which you reside. It verifies that there are no registered marriages under your name in that particular province. To obtain a Provincial Marriage Search, you typically need to submit an application and pay the required fee to the vital statistics or registry office of the relevant province. Once processed, the search result will indicate whether any marriages are registered in your name within that specific province.
- Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad: In certain cases where you plan to get married abroad, the foreign authorities may require a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to Marriage Abroad. This document can be obtained from Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. To request this statement, you generally need to provide a notarized Single Status Declaration, along with your original or certified true copies of Canadian identification documents such as a passport, birth certificate, or Record of Landing form, as well as any applicable divorce or death certificates for former spouses.
Do You Need to Authenticate and Legalize Single Status Documents?
The requirement for authenticating and legalizing your single status documents depends on the specific country or institution where you plan to use them. The process of authentication and legalization, also known as apostille or legalization, is used to verify the authenticity of a document for international use.
Here are a few scenarios where you may need to authenticate and legalize your single status documents:
- Getting married abroad: If you are planning to get married in another country, that country may require you to authenticate and legalize your single status documents. The process ensures that the documents are recognized as valid and authentic in the foreign country's legal system.
- Immigration applications: When submitting single status documents as part of an immigration application, the immigration authorities may require authentication and legalization. This is to establish the authenticity of the documents and ensure compliance with their legal requirements.
- Legal proceedings: If you need to present your single status documents in a foreign court or for a legal proceeding, authentication and legalization may be necessary to ensure their acceptance as valid evidence.
To authenticate and legalize your single status documents, the general process involves the following steps:
- Notarization: Ensure that your single status documents are notarized by a Canadian Notary Public. This step confirms the authenticity of the documents. Call us to book your appointment.
- Authentication: Take the notarized documents to the appropriate authority for authentication. In Canada, this is usually the authentication services or equivalent department of the provincial government or the Global Affairs Canada office.
- Legalization: After authentication, the documents may need to be legalized by the embassy or consulate of the country where you intend to use them. This step confirms that the documents comply with the legal requirements of that particular country.
Download A Single Status Affidavit Template
- Click the button below to download the fillable affidavit in .docx format for Single Status.
- Fill out the document.
- Schedule a call with us to have it notarized.
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