Yes, gay marriage is legal in Las Vegas. Nevada has issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples since October 9, 2014, and the process at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau is identical for every couple. Three independent legal authorities back that right: the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the federal Respect for Marriage Act signed in 2022, and a 2020 amendment to the Nevada Constitution guaranteeing marriage regardless of gender.
How Las Vegas Became a Legal Same-Sex Wedding Destination
Same-sex marriage became legal in Nevada on October 9, 2014, after a Ninth Circuit ruling struck down state bans as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges made marriage equality the law nationwide, requiring every state to both license and recognize marriages between same-sex couples.1Justia. Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)
Nevada voters went further in November 2020, approving a state constitutional amendment, now Article 1, Section 21, which requires Nevada and its political subdivisions to “recognize marriages and issue marriage licenses to couples regardless of gender” and treat “all legally valid marriages” equally. The same amendment protects religious organizations and clergy who decline to perform any marriage. Nevada’s marriage statute, NRS 122.020, uses matching language, defining those eligible to marry as “two persons, regardless of gender.”2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.020 – Persons Capable of Marriage
The Respect for Marriage Act, signed in December 2022, added a federal backstop. It requires the federal government to recognize any marriage valid in the state where it was performed and prohibits any state from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of the spouses.3Congress.gov. H.R.8404 – Respect for Marriage Act Even if the Supreme Court were to revisit Obergefell, federal law would still require recognition of same-sex marriages lawfully performed in Nevada.
Who Can Marry in Nevada
The eligibility rules are the same for everyone. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old, must not already be married to someone else, and cannot be more closely related than second cousins.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.020 – Persons Capable of Marriage
A narrow exception exists for 17-year-olds, who may marry only with parental or guardian consent and a separate authorization from a district court finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that the marriage serves the minor’s best interests and that extraordinary circumstances exist. Pregnancy alone does not meet that standard. No one under 17 can marry in Nevada under any circumstances.4Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage
Getting a Marriage License in Clark County
Both applicants have to appear together, in person, at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau at 201 E. Clark Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101. A pre-application is available online and will save you time at the counter, but the license itself can only be issued face-to-face.5Clark County Clerk’s Office. Marriage License Application
The bureau is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, including every holiday with no exceptions.6Clark County, NV. Contact Us That schedule is one reason Las Vegas stays busy with weddings on dates like New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day.
Each applicant needs to prove name and age. Acceptable documents include a driver’s license or state ID from any U.S. state or territory, a U.S. or foreign passport, a birth certificate paired with a photo ID, a military or military dependent ID, or immigration documents such as a Certificate of Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card, or Temporary Resident Card. If you clearly appear over 25, the clerk may waive proof of age. Birth certificates in a language other than English may require a notarized translation.4Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage
Each applicant also provides a Social Security number on the application affidavit. If you don’t have one, you state that fact. The clerk cannot deny your license for lacking a Social Security number and won’t ask you to prove the number is real.4Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage
The marriage license fee is $102. Credit and debit card payments carry an additional processing fee of 2% plus $1.25.7Clark County, NV. Fees Nevada has no waiting period, so the license is issued on the spot and you can hold your ceremony the same day. It stays valid for one year from the date it’s issued.4Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage
The Ceremony
The ceremony has to take place in Nevada and be performed by someone authorized under state law. Eligible officiants include ministers, religious officials, notaries public, and professional marriage officiants, each of whom must first obtain a certificate of permission to perform marriages from the county clerk.8Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.062 – Certificates From County Clerk Las Vegas has hundreds of licensed officiants, and many wedding venues arrange the officiant as part of a package.
At least one witness other than the officiant must be present when you exchange vows. Nevada law does not prescribe a particular form for the ceremony. The only legal requirement is that both parties declare, in the presence of the officiant and witness, that they take each other as spouses.4Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage If you arrive without a witness, most chapels and the Marriage License Bureau can help arrange one.
After the Wedding
Your officiant is responsible for delivering the signed marriage certificate to the Clark County Clerk’s office within 10 days. That filing is what officially records the marriage.4Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 122 – Marriage If the officiant files late, the marriage is still valid, but sorting out the paperwork becomes harder.
You’ll want at least one certified copy of the marriage certificate, which serves as your official proof of marriage for name changes, insurance, taxes, and immigration. Certified copies cost $20 each and can be ordered through the Clark County Clerk’s office online or in person.7Clark County, NV. Fees Order a few, since many agencies require an original certified copy rather than a photocopy.
If either spouse plans to take the other’s last name or use a hyphenated name, the marriage certificate is the legal basis for that change. The usual sequence is to update the Social Security card first by filing Form SS-5 at a local Social Security Administration office, then use the updated card to change your driver’s license, passport, and bank accounts. The SSA requires originals or certified documents, not photocopies, and processing takes roughly 10 to 14 business days.
Will Your Nevada Marriage Be Recognized Back Home
Yes. A marriage legally performed in Nevada is valid everywhere in the United States, backed by three independent authorities: Obergefell v. Hodges, which requires every state to license and recognize same-sex marriages;1Justia. Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015) the Respect for Marriage Act, which independently prohibits states from denying recognition to marriages performed elsewhere based on the sex of the spouses;3Congress.gov. H.R.8404 – Respect for Marriage Act and Nevada’s own constitutional guarantee.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.020 – Persons Capable of Marriage Your certified marriage certificate is all you need to prove the union anywhere in the country.
A Note on Divorce for Non-Residents
If you marry in Las Vegas but live elsewhere, Nevada will not handle a future divorce for you. To file for divorce in Nevada, at least one spouse must have been a Nevada resident for at least six weeks before filing.9State of Nevada Self-Help Center. Overview of Divorce If neither of you lives in Nevada, divorce has to be filed in the state where one of you does reside. Every state will recognize a Nevada marriage for that purpose; the divorce itself follows the law of the state where it is filed.