How to Become an Ordained Minister in Nevada: Certificate, Fees, and Renewal

To become an ordained minister in Nevada who can legally perform weddings, you need to do two things: get ordained by a church or religious organization that operates in Nevada, and then obtain a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages from the county clerk in the county where you live.¹ Ordination by itself does not give you the legal authority to marry anyone in Nevada. Skip the county registration and you can face a civil penalty of up to $1,500.²

Pick an Ordaining Organization That Operates in Nevada

This is where most applicants stumble. Nevada’s statute requires the minister to be in good standing within a church or religious organization that is “incorporated, organized or established in this State.”¹ The county application affidavit says it plainly: the ordaining organization has to declare that it “is organized and carries on its work in the State of Nevada” and list a physical Nevada address.²

Large online ordaining bodies such as the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries are commonly used in Nevada, and many county clerks accept their ordinations. But if the organization you choose can’t truthfully sign that Nevada-presence affidavit, your application can be denied. Before you pay for credentials, call the clerk’s office in the county where you live and confirm that ordinations from your intended organization are accepted. One phone call saves weeks.

When comparing organizations, three practical things matter:

Documentation. You’ll need an ordination certificate and a letter of good standing at minimum, and some counties also want proof the organization is incorporated in Nevada.
Who signs the affidavit. The affidavit of authority must be signed by an authorized official of the organization, not by you, and it should be notarized.
Cost of credentials. Online ordination itself is usually free; the physical certificate and letter packets are what you pay for.

Complete the Ordination

Once you’ve confirmed the organization will work for your county, the ordination step is quick. Most online bodies ask you to submit a short form with your legal name, address, and email, and sometimes an affirmation of intent. Confirmation usually arrives by email within minutes or hours.

The email confirmation alone won’t satisfy the county. Order the physical documents right away: the ordination certificate, a letter of good standing, and, if the organization offers one, a pre-formatted Nevada affidavit of authority. Shipping can take a week or longer, so place the order before you turn to the county application.

Apply for Your Certificate of Permission

Nevada requires every officiant to hold a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages issued by the county clerk in the county where the officiant resides.² You apply where you live, not where the wedding will be. Once issued, the certificate is good anywhere in Nevada.

Documents You’ll Need

A verified written application listing your date of ordination, the name of your ordaining organization, and your Social Security number.²
A signed affidavit of authority from an official of your ordaining organization, confirming you are in good standing and authorized to solemnize marriages, and stating that the organization operates in Nevada with a Nevada address.²
A valid government-issued photo ID.

All documents must bear original signatures and notarization. Faxes and email scans aren’t accepted.³ Some counties ask for extras, such as the organization’s Nevada incorporation certificate, so confirm the local checklist before you submit.

Fees and Background Checks

State statute sets a base application fee of $25.² Counties charge more in practice, and most add a background check:

Nye County: $30 application fee.³
Washoe County: $30 application fee plus $54.96 for a mandatory third-party background check.⁴
Clark County: $55 application fee plus $56.70 for the background check.⁵

County clerks also have statutory authority to require a training course that can add up to $100.² Not every county does; ask when you call. All fees are non-refundable.

How Long It Takes

Plan on several weeks. Nye County advises submitting three to four weeks before a planned ceremony.³ Counties running background checks may need longer. Work backward from the wedding date and start early. Clerks will not expedite because a ceremony is approaching.

What You Have to Do at and After the Wedding

Nevada attaches two time-sensitive duties to the officiant. Before the ceremony, you must be shown a valid Nevada marriage license. Marrying a couple without first seeing the license is a misdemeanor.²

After the ceremony, you have 10 days to deliver the original signed marriage certificate to the county clerk or recorder of the county that issued the license, which may be a different county than the one where the wedding took place. Missing the 10-day deadline is also a misdemeanor.² Beyond the criminal exposure, a late or missing filing leaves the marriage unrecorded, and the couple will feel that when they try to change names or claim insurance and tax benefits.

Keeping the Certificate Valid

Your Certificate of Permission may or may not expire. State law lets each county clerk set an expiration policy. Where a county has one, certificates expire five years after issuance or renewal; where a county does not, the certificate remains valid indefinitely unless revoked or until the officiant loses good standing.⁶ Ask your county clerk which rule applies to you, and if renewal is required, file it with the same office. Officiating on a lapsed certificate carries the same $1,500 civil penalty as officiating without one.

Do You Need a Business License?

If you plan to officiate weddings for pay as a sole proprietor, or as an independent contractor receiving 1099 income, Nevada requires a state business license. You don’t need one if you’re a W-2 employee performing officiant duties for a business, if you’re certified for a single ceremony only, or if you already hold a valid sole proprietor state business license for another activity.⁷ If you got ordained as a favor to a friend and won’t be charging, this probably doesn’t apply to you. If you intend to build an officiating business, get the license before your first paid booking.

If You Only Want to Marry One Couple

If becoming a permanent ordained officiant is more than you want, Nevada allows single-ceremony certificates. The application is similar, but single-ceremony applicants are generally exempt from the background check requirement,⁴ and no state business license is needed.⁷ Contact the clerk in the county where you live for the form and current fee.

1
Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.062 – Licensed, Ordained or Appointed Ministers and Other Officials Authorized to Solemnize a Marriage
2
Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage
3
Nye County, NV Official Website. Marriage Officiant Licensing and Applications
4
Washoe County. Is There a Fee for Processing an Application for Authority
5
Clark County, NV. Fees
6
Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.066 – Initial Application for or Renewal of Certificate
7
Nevada Secretary of State. Marriage Officiants