Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Act current to 2013-05-26 and last amended on 2013-03-27. Previous Versions

Marginal note:Procuring feigned marriage

  • 292. (1) Every person who procures or knowingly aids in procuring a feigned marriage between himself and another person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

  • Marginal note:Corroboration

    (2) No person shall be convicted of an offence under this section on the evidence of only one witness unless the evidence of that witness is corroborated in a material particular by evidence that implicates the accused.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 256;
  • 1980-81-82-83, c. 125, s. 21.
Marginal note:Polygamy

  • 293. (1) Every one who

    • (a) practises or enters into or in any manner agrees or consents to practise or enter into

      • (i) any form of polygamy, or

      • (ii) any kind of conjugal union with more than one person at the same time,

      whether or not it is by law recognized as a binding form of marriage, or

    • (b) celebrates, assists or is a party to a rite, ceremony, contract or consent that purports to sanction a relationship mentioned in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii),

    is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

  • Marginal note:Evidence in case of polygamy

    (2) Where an accused is charged with an offence under this section, no averment or proof of the method by which the alleged relationship was entered into, agreed to or consented to is necessary in the indictment or on the trial of the accused, nor is it necessary on the trial to prove that the persons who are alleged to have entered into the relationship had or intended to have sexual intercourse.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 257.

Unlawful Solemnization of Marriage

Marginal note:Pretending to solemnize marriage

294. Every one who

  • (a) solemnizes or pretends to solemnize a marriage without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on him, or

  • (b) procures a person to solemnize a marriage knowing that he is not lawfully authorized to solemnize the marriage,

is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 258.
Marginal note:Marriage contrary to law

295. Every one who, being lawfully authorized to solemnize marriage, knowingly and wilfully solemnizes a marriage in contravention of the laws of the province in which the marriage is solemnized is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

  • R.S., c. C-34, s. 259.