Las Vegas is one of the easiest and quickest places to get married in the U.S. Couples do not need a blood test, and there is no required waiting period between getting the marriage license and having the ceremony. Instead, couples just need to follow the steps below:
Step 1: Make sure you are eligible to get married in Nevada
The two people in the couple must meet the following requirements:
- Age. Be at least 18-years old. Minors aged 17 may marry with the consent of one parent or legal guardian and after a court finds that marriage is in the minor’s best interest.
- Consanguinity. Be no nearer in kinship than second cousins. Otherwise, the couple risks incest charges.
- Singleness. Have no living husband or wife. Otherwise, the couple faces bigamy charges.
The two people do not need to be Nevada residents.
Couples are advised to preregister for their marriage license.
Step 2: Apply for a marriage license in Clark County
The couple should click here to preregister for a Clark County marriage license up to 60 days prior to the wedding date. It is not mandatory to pre-register online: Couples can just show up at the Las Vegas Marriage Bureau (see Step 3 below) since there is no waiting time between submitting the application and receiving the license. But preregistering will save couples a lot of time at the Bureau.
Note that the couple must use their legal names as they appear on their government-issued IDs.
Also note that marriage licenses are not required for vow renewals or commitment ceremonies.
Step 3: Go to the Las Vegas Marriage License Bureau
Within 60 days of preregistering for a marriage license, the couple then needs to go to the Las Vegas Marriage License Bureau in person to pick up the license. Unless there is a line, the wait should take just a few minutes.
Couples who did not preregister also need to go to the Las Vegas Marriage License Bureau in person. But first they will need to fill out and submit the marriage license application there before they can pick up their license. Depending on the line, the wait may take an hour or more to process their application and pick up the license.
The Las Vegas Marriage License Bureau is located in the Regional Justice Center in Downtown Las Vegas at:
201 E. Clark Avenue
(the ground floor on the northwest corner of 3rd Street and Clark)
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 671-0600
The Marriage License Bureau is open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight, including weekends and holidays. Couples do not need to make an appointment to pick up the marriage license. But both people in the couple must be present to pick up the marriage license. The couple must present valid IDs, which include either a:
- Driver’s license,
- Passport,
- U.S. or foreign country issued I.D. card showing a photo and birth date,
- Military identification, or
- Resident alien card
The marriage license costs $102. Couples may pay with cash or credit card. They may not pay with traveler’s checks, personal checks, or business checks.
Note that it may be possible for only one party in the couple to retrieve the marriage license if the other party is hospitalized or incarcerated. Click here for instructions if one party is hospitalized. Click here for instructions if one party is incarcerated.
Step 4: Get married!
Couples have one year from the date of receiving the marriage license to get married in Las Vegas. The couple must bring their marriage license and IDs to the officiant.
Note that the couple will need one (1) witness to the wedding ceremony (most wedding chapels can supply one). The couple may recite their own vows. After the ceremony, the officiant has ten (10) days to file the wedding paperwork with the Clark County clerk.
Note that the officiant must possess a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages issued by a County Clerk from the State of Nevada. Most chapels and mainstream religious institutions already have authorized officiants. Click here to check if a particular person is authorized to perform marriages in Las Vegas.
Out-of-state officiants need prior authorization to perform a wedding ceremony in Nevada. Click here for instructions on becoming an officiant in Las Vegas.
Marriage certificates can be ordered online.
Step 5: Get a certified copy of the marriage certificate
Click here to order a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the County Clerk. Marriage certificates should be available no later than ten (10) business days after the wedding date. They cost $20.
Certified marriage certificates may be necessary for several reasons, including for filing taxes and changing one’s name. In order to change one’s name, the person first needs to get a new social security card, followed by a new driver’s license (or state-issued ID). At that point, the person may inform other associations about the name change, such as:
- employer
- banks
- insurance
- credit card companies
- voter registration
- mortgage or rental companies
International couples may need an Apostille as well as a marriage certificate to register the marriage in a foreign country. Click here to check if a certain country requires an Apostille. If so, click here to apply for one with the Nevada Secretary of State.
