How to Get a Marriage License in Omaha, Nebraska

To get a marriage license in Omaha, Nebraska, both people must apply together, in person, at the Douglas County Clerk’s Office in the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center at 1819 Farnam Street. The license is issued the same day, there is no waiting period before the ceremony, it stays valid for one year, and it can be used anywhere in Nebraska.¹²

Who Can Apply

Nebraska sets the age of majority at 19. If you are 19 or older, you can apply on your own. If you are 17 or 18, you need written, sworn consent from a parent, legal guardian, or the person who has legal custody of you.³ Anyone under 17 cannot get a license, even with parental approval.

There is no residency requirement, so out-of-state couples can apply in Omaha without any extra steps. Nebraska does not require blood tests or medical exams.

What to Bring

Each applicant needs a current, non-expired photo ID. A driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or passport book will work. Passport cards are not accepted.⁴ If you are 17 or 18, bring the completed parental consent form along with your ID.

You will also need:

Both Social Security numbers. If you do not have one, you can complete a waiver form at the clerk’s office.
Full legal names of both of your parents, including mothers’ maiden names, and each parent’s birthplace.
The date any prior marriage ended, if either of you was married before.

The application itself asks for your full legal name, current address, and your place and date of birth.²

If You Were Previously Married

A Nebraska divorce decree does not become final until six months after the judge signs it. During that window you are still legally married to your former spouse and cannot get a new license. Count six months and one day from the date the decree was filed with the clerk before applying. If a prior marriage ended because your former spouse died, bring the date of death; there is no waiting period in that case.

Applying at the Douglas County Clerk’s Office

Douglas County offers an online pre-application that lets you complete the form and upload your ID before you come in. Filling it out ahead of time reduces paperwork at the counter and cuts down on errors.⁵

Even with the online form done, both of you must appear together at the office. It is in Room H08 on the Harney Level of the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68183.⁵ At the counter, the clerk verifies your identification, both parties sign the application under oath, and the license is issued on the spot. No appointment is needed.

A filing fee is due at the time of application. Call the Douglas County Clerk’s Office to confirm the current amount before you go, since it can change from year to year.

Once the license is in your hand there is no mandatory waiting period. You can go straight from the counter to your ceremony the same day.¹

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Nebraska law requires your marriage to be solemnized by a person authorized by law for the license to be valid.² Under Nebraska Revised Statute 42-108, authorized officiants include ordained ministers and judges or magistrates. Nebraska recognizes online ordinations, so a friend ordained through an internet ministry can legally perform the ceremony. The state does not require officiants to register separately.

One local rule to know: if you hold your ceremony inside the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center or the Hall of Justice, you must bring your own witnesses.⁵

The Ceremony and Returning the License

The ceremony does not need to follow any particular script, but both parties must declare in front of the officiant and witnesses that they take each other as spouses. At least two witnesses besides the officiant must be present.⁶

After the vows, the officiant and both witnesses sign the license. The officiant then has 15 days to return the completed license to the county clerk. If that step is missed, the marriage may not be officially recorded, which can create problems later with insurance enrollment, property, and anything else that requires proof of marriage. If a friend is officiating, make sure they understand this deadline before the wedding.

How Long the License Lasts

A license issued in Douglas County is valid for one year from the date of issuance and works anywhere in Nebraska.⁷ You do not have to hold the ceremony in Douglas County. A couple who picks up a license in Omaha can marry in Scottsbluff, Grand Island, or any other Nebraska location.

The license has no legal authority outside Nebraska. If you plan to hold your ceremony in another state, you will need a license from that state instead.

Getting Certified Copies After the Wedding

Once the officiant returns the signed license and the marriage is recorded, you will want certified copies of your marriage certificate. Banks, insurance companies, employers, and government agencies almost always require a certified copy, not a photocopy, when you need to prove you are married.

Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services handles those requests through its Vital Records office. Copies are $16 each and can be ordered online or by mail. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to Vital Records, the full birth names of both spouses, the date and county of the marriage, a reason for the request, and a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID. Online orders accept Visa or MasterCard.⁸

1
Richardson County. Marriage Licenses – Richardson County
2
Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 42-104 – Solemnization; License; Application; Requirements
3
Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Revised Statutes 42-105 – Marriage of Minor; Conditions Upon Which a License May Be Issued
4
Lancaster County, NE. Marriage Licenses
5
Douglas County, Nebraska. Apply for Marriage License – County Clerk
6
Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Revised Statutes 42-109 – Ceremony; Requirements
7
Knox County Nebraska. Marriage Licenses
8
Nebraska DHHS. Vital Records