To get married in Las Vegas, you need three things: a marriage license from Clark County, a ceremony performed by an authorized officiant with at least one witness present, and the signed certificate filed with the county clerk within 10 days. Nevada has no waiting period and no blood test requirement, so the license and the wedding can happen the same day. The parts that catch people off guard usually come after the ceremony, when name changes, insurance windows, and tax withholding all start their own clocks.
Who Can Legally Marry in Nevada
Any two adults who are at least 18, not currently married to anyone else, and not closely related may marry in Nevada.1Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 122.020 Gender doesn’t matter. The relationship rule prohibits marriage between anyone more closely related than second cousins or cousins of the half blood, so first-cousin marriages are out.
A 17-year-old can marry only with parental consent and a Nevada district court order after an evidentiary hearing, and no one under 17 can marry in the state at all.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 122.025
Getting Your Marriage License in Clark County
The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is at 201 E. Clark Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. It’s open every day of the year, including holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.3Clark County, NV. Contact Us
You can save time by filling out the online pre-application in advance; it stays in the system for a year.4Clark County Clerk’s Office. Marriage License Application Both people still have to appear in person to finalize the application and show ID. The license fee is $102 in cash, slightly more with a card because of a processing fee.
The license is issued the same day and stays valid for one year, so you can hold the ceremony immediately or wait.5Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 122.040
What to Bring
Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID proving name and age: a driver’s license, passport, military ID, or a state or territorial ID.6Clark County, NV. Marriage License Requirements Your names will appear on the license exactly as they appear on the ID, so bring the document that reflects the name you want on your marriage certificate.
If either of you was married before, you need to know the exact date and location of the divorce or the former spouse’s death. You don’t have to bring the decree or death certificate, just the information.
The Ceremony and Who Can Perform It
Nevada authorizes several categories of people to solemnize a marriage:
- Ministers and religious officials in good standing with a church or religious organization established in Nevada.
- Notaries public appointed by the Nevada Secretary of State.
- Marriage officiants licensed by the state, which covers most Las Vegas wedding chapel operators.
- U.S. military chaplains assigned to duty in Nevada.
Every officiant must first obtain a certificate of permission to perform marriages from the county clerk.7Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 122.062 If you’re bringing your own officiant, confirm they’ve done this before the wedding. You can verify anyone’s status through the Nevada Secretary of State’s minister search.8Nevada Secretary of State. Nevada Minister Search
Nevada law doesn’t prescribe specific vows or a set ceremony format. It does require both people to declare their intent to marry in front of the officiant, and at least one witness besides the officiant must be present.9Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 122.110 Most chapels and venues can provide a witness if you don’t have one.
If you’d rather skip the chapel, Clark County performs civil ceremonies at the courthouse for $75, plus a $2.75 card processing fee. That’s separate from the license fee.10Clark County, NV. Civil Marriage
Filing the Certificate and Ordering Copies
After the ceremony, the officiant is responsible for delivering the signed marriage certificate to the Clark County Clerk’s Office. By law, that has to happen within 10 days.11Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes NRS 122.130 Until the certificate is filed, the marriage isn’t recorded. If you used a private officiant or a smaller chapel, follow up and make sure they actually submitted it.
Once recorded, certified copies are available from the Clark County Clerk’s Office online, by mail, or in person at $20 each.12Clark County, NV. Fees Order two or three. You’ll need originals for name changes, insurance updates, tax questions, and other bureaucratic steps that all seem to want their own copy. A copy may be available as soon as a day after filing, but mailed copies can take up to three weeks.
Will Your Marriage Be Recognized Back Home?
Yes. A marriage legally performed in Nevada is recognized in every U.S. state. The Respect for Marriage Act, signed in 2022, prohibits any state from denying recognition to an out-of-state marriage based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.13Congress.gov. H.R.8404 – Respect for Marriage Act You don’t have to register your Las Vegas marriage anywhere else. A certified copy of the Clark County certificate is the legal proof you’ll use.
To use your certificate in another country, you’ll likely need an apostille, which authenticates the document for international use. The Nevada Secretary of State handles apostille requests.
What to Handle After the Wedding
Name Change
If either spouse is changing a last name, start with the Social Security Administration. Most other agencies verify names against SSA records, so doing this first prevents mismatches down the line. You’ll need to present your original marriage certificate as proof of the legal name change, and depending on your situation you may be able to begin the process online or may need an appointment at a local office.14Social Security Administration. Change Name With Social Security There’s no fee for the replacement card.15Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
For a passport name change, the form and fee depend on when the current passport was issued. If it’s less than a year old, Form DS-5504 may be free; older passports usually mean Form DS-82 by mail or DS-11 in person, at the standard renewal fee.16U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Tell your employer’s HR or payroll department too. They’ll update your Form I-9 to reflect the new legal name, which keeps your year-end W-2 aligned with your Social Security record.17U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Recording Changes of Name and Other Identity Information for Current Employees
Health Insurance
Marriage triggers a special enrollment period. Federal law gives you at least 30 days from the wedding to add a spouse to an employer-sponsored plan or change coverage, with new coverage starting no later than the first day of the following month.18eCFR. 29 CFR 2590.701-6 – Special Enrollment Periods Some plans and marketplace insurers allow up to 60 days. Miss the window and you’ll wait until open enrollment, so ask HR right after the wedding which deadline your plan uses.
Tax Withholding
Marriage changes your federal filing status for the entire tax year, even if the wedding is on December 31. Give your employer a new Form W-4 so your withholding matches the new status, and if both spouses work, complete the section for multiple jobs to avoid coming up short.19Internal Revenue Service. Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate Filing jointly usually saves money, but not always: if one spouse has significant student loan debt on an income-driven repayment plan, or both spouses earn similar high incomes, filing separately sometimes works out better.
Special Situations
If one spouse isn’t a U.S. citizen, the citizen spouse can petition for permanent residency by filing Form I-130 with USCIS. As of 2026, the filing fee is $625 online or $675 on paper.20U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule USCIS will look closely at whether the marriage is genuine, so start gathering joint financial records, a shared lease or property documents, photos, and travel documentation early.21U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual – Chapter 6 Spouses
If either spouse is active-duty military, the new spouse has to be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) within 30 days to access TRICARE and base privileges. Bring the marriage certificate to a military ID card office; the service member signs DD Form 1172-2, and all supporting documents must be originals or certified copies.22eCFR. 32 CFR Part 161 Subpart D – Eligibility Documentation Required for DEERS Enrollment