To get married in Nebraska, both of you go together to any county clerk’s office, show government-issued photo ID, answer the application questions, and pay $25. The license is issued the same day, is valid for one year, and can only be used for a ceremony performed inside Nebraska. An authorized officiant then performs the ceremony in front of two witnesses, and the officiant returns the signed license to the issuing clerk within 15 days.
Who Can Legally Marry
Nebraska’s age of majority is 19, so both parties must be at least 19 to marry on their own.1Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 43-2101 – Minor, Defined A 17- or 18-year-old can marry with written, sworn consent from a parent or legal guardian, with the specific signer depending on custody and whether both parents are living.2Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 42-105 – Marriage, Minors, Consent Required No one 16 or younger may marry in the state.
Some marriages are void from the start. That includes marriages between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings and half-siblings, first cousins of whole blood, and uncle-niece or aunt-nephew pairs, whether the relationship is by birth in or out of wedlock. A marriage is also void if either person is already married to someone else or was mentally incompetent at the ceremony.3Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 42-103 – Marriages, When Void
Nebraska has not recognized common-law marriage since 1923. Living together and calling yourselves married does not create a legal marriage here, no matter how long it goes on.4Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 42-104 – Solemnization, License, Application, Requirements
Applying for the Marriage License
Both applicants must appear together, in person, at a county clerk’s office. Any county in Nebraska works, not just the one where you live or plan to hold the ceremony. There is no residency requirement, so out-of-state couples can apply here.5Otoe County, Nebraska. Otoe County Clerk – Marriage License
Each of you needs a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID — a driver’s license, state ID card, or passport book. At least one county has specified that passport cards are not accepted, so bring the passport book if that is your ID.6Lancaster County. Marriage Licenses Nebraska does not require a blood test.
What the Application Asks For
Come ready with:
- Full legal names and current addresses for each applicant
- Date and place of birth for each applicant
- Social Security numbers for each applicant; if you don’t have one, you’ll sign an affidavit at the clerk’s office
- Both parents’ full names and birthplaces for each of you, including mothers’ maiden names
- The date any prior marriage ended, and whether it ended by divorce, annulment, or death
The parents’ birthplace question trips people up. If you’re not sure, ask family before your appointment rather than at the counter.5Otoe County, Nebraska. Otoe County Clerk – Marriage License
Fee, Timing, and Validity
The license fee is $25.7Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 33-110 – Fees for Certificate and Seal Some clerk offices accept only cash, check, or money order, so confirm payment methods before you go.
There is no waiting period. The license is issued once you finish the application and pay. It stays valid for one year from the date of issuance, and it can only be used for a ceremony performed in Nebraska. If it expires or you decide to marry in another state, you start over with a new application.8Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 42-104 – Solemnization, License, Application, Requirements
The Ceremony
Nebraska requires an officiant. Authorized officiants are current or retired judges, current or retired clerk magistrates, and religious leaders authorized by their church, congregation, or faith community to perform marriages, including ministers, priests, and rabbis. Self-solemnized marriages are not permitted.9FindLaw. Nebraska Code 42-108 – Marriage Ceremony, Who May Perform, Return, Contents
No script is required. The legal requirement is that both parties declare, in front of the officiant and at least two witnesses, that they take each other as spouses. The witnesses must be present for the declaration and sign the license afterward.10Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Revised Statutes 42-109 – Ceremony, Requirements Anything else about the ceremony is up to you.
Filing the License and Getting Certified Copies
After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license, including the names and addresses of the two witnesses, and returns it to the issuing county clerk’s office within 15 days.9FindLaw. Nebraska Code 42-108 – Marriage Ceremony, Who May Perform, Return, Contents That filing is the officiant’s responsibility, but it’s worth following up. Until the license is returned and recorded, the marriage isn’t in the county’s records, which can slow down a name change or an insurance enrollment.
Once recorded, certified copies are available from the issuing county clerk for $9 each.7Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 33-110 – Fees for Certificate and Seal The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, also issues certified copies for $16 each. Order several. You’ll likely need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other paperwork.
If You Were Recently Divorced in Nebraska
You cannot remarry the day a Nebraska divorce is final. State law imposes a six-month waiting period after the divorce decree is signed and filed before either party can legally remarry.11Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska Code 42-381 – Dissolution of Marriage, Decree The clock starts when the judge signs the decree and the clerk of court files it, not when you reached a settlement or held the hearing. A marriage entered before the six months are up could be challenged as invalid.
Changing Your Name After the Wedding
Marriage in Nebraska does not automatically change your legal name. If you plan to take your spouse’s surname, update each agency separately, and start with the Social Security Administration because most other institutions want SSA records to match first.
Updating your Social Security record is free. Complete Form SS-5 and submit it with your certified marriage certificate and a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. The SSA requires originals or certified copies; photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted. You can apply in person at a local Social Security office or mail the form and original documents, which will be returned to you.12Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
After Social Security is updated, move on to your driver’s license, passport, bank accounts, and employer records. Marriage is also a qualifying life event for health insurance, which lets you update coverage outside the normal enrollment window, so contact your insurer or benefits office promptly if a spouse needs to be added to your plan.