How to Apply for a Marriage License in Nevada

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

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Getting a marriage license in Nevada is a simple and fast process. Unlike other states, the state of Nevada does not have a waiting period between applying for the marriage license and receiving the license. Whether you’re looking to get hitched in Reno or legally bound in Las Vegas, you will need to apply for a marriage license first.

Preparing to Apply

• Age: If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must have one parent or legal guardian present. A notarized written permission slip is also accepted. But it must be written in English and must state the name, birth date, age of the minor child, as well as the relationship of the person giving consent. If you are under 16, marriage can only be authorized by court order when the request has been filed by either a parent or legal guardian.
• Family relationship: Nevada does not grant marriage licenses to ancestors and their descendants, such as parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, or aunts/uncles and their nieces/nephews. Second cousins or first cousins may marry in the state of Nevada.
• Relationship status: If you were previously married, your divorce must be final. You will need to provide the date (month, year) of your divorce and the location (city, state) where you were divorced. Nevada does not do proxy marriages so both people must be present. However, Nevada’s county clerk office is prohibited from issuing a new Marriage License to couples currently married, so you do not need a new marriage license to renew your vows with your partner.

• Valid picture ID, such as a valid driver’s license or a valid identification card from the DMV.
• A valid passport.
• A Resident Alien card.
• A military ID.
• A certified or original birth certificate. If you have a foreign birth certificate, it must be translated into English and notarized.
• If you are a refugee and do not have a birth certificate, you must get a signed and sealed record of your name, birth date, birthplace, and parents’ names from your sponsoring agency.
• If the document is in a foreign language, you must provide a certified translation into English along with the original. A certified translation will be signed, dated, and contain a statement that attests the accuracy of the translation.

• If you are divorced, you must be able to give your previous spouse’s full legal name, the date the divorce was finalized, and the city, state, and country that issued the divorce.
• You may also be required to show a certified copy of the divorce decree or other dissolution document.

• Keep in mind getting a marriage license with your new name does not mean your name is automatically changed. You and your partner must choose your legal surnames.
• You can use an online marriage name change kit to change your names. [4] X Research source

Applying for the Marriage License

• Because you are applying for a legal document, make sure the name you input matches exactly with the name on the government issued ID you will be using to pick up the license. [5] X Research source
• Fill out the document very carefully to make sure you do not make any spelling errors or miss any required information on the form.
• Once you have completed the form online, click submit. You will need to bring your reference number and required identification for both parties to the express window at the main Marriage Bureau in Las Vegas (201 E. Clark Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101, Northwest corner of 3rd Street and Clark) or to a Marriage Services clerk in one of the outlying locations in Nevada. [6] X Research source
• Both people getting married must appear in person at the Marriage Bureau to obtain the marriage license. [7] X Research source

• A representative cannot apply for a marriage license on your behalf, even if the person has been granted a Power of Attorney. You cannot use a notarized marriage license affidavit to substitute for your personal appearance at the office.

• In Las Vegas, the cost is $60 and the licensing bureau only accepts cash. [9] X Research source
• The license is good for one year and can be used anywhere in the state of Nevada.

• Military personnel may have up to 180 days to get married.

• You must request a waiver from the county clerk’s office when you obtain your marriage license. A judge will give the waiver order.

• All ministers, religious officials, and Notaries Public who wish to perform marriage ceremonies in Nevada must obtain a Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriages from the County Clerk. You can check that the officiant has this certificate before proceeding with the marriage ceremony.
• The state of Nevada has created a database of all marriage officiants in the state that you can access and search for free.

• One copy of the license goes to the County Clerk's office for recording. It is Nevada State law that within 10 days after you have had a marriage ceremony performed, the minister must deliver the original marriage certificate to the recorder’s office for official recording. [12] X Research source
• The other copy of the license is yours. You can use your copy to change your legal surname once you are married, if you wish.

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1. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/
2. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/
3. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/
4. ↑http://www.marriagenamechange.com/
5. ↑http://www.702wedding.com/las-vegas-marriage-license.asp
6. ↑http://www.702wedding.com/las-vegas-marriage-license.asp
7. ↑http://www.702wedding.com/las-vegas-marriage-license.asp
8. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/
9. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/marriage_licenses/las_vegas.shtml

1. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/
2. ↑http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/nevada/
3. ↑http://www.washoecounty.us/clerks/mlb/proof-of-marriage.php

About this article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 103,728 times.

To apply for a marriage license in Nevada, you’ll need to be at least 18, not already married, and have the proper identification. The easiest way to apply for the license is to fill in the application online on the Clark County website no more than 60 days before getting married. Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive a marriage license in the mail. After you receive this, you and your partner must appear at the county clerk’s office within 60 days to have an authorized person perform the Nevada wedding ceremony. Alternatively, you may have any person who is certified to officiate perform the ceremony. Finally, make sure you, your spouse, the officiant, and a witness all sign the license before returning a copy to the County Clerk’s office. To learn how to apply for a marriage license in person, read more from our Legal co-author!

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