You can get a Las Vegas marriage license the same day you walk in. Both of you show up together at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau in downtown Las Vegas, present ID, pay $102, and leave with a license that’s good for one year anywhere in Nevada. There’s no waiting period, no blood test, and no residency requirement, which is why Clark County issues more marriage licenses than almost any other county in the country.1Clark County, NV. Marriage License Requirements
Who Can Get Married in Clark County
Both applicants must be at least 18, unmarried to anyone else, and no more closely related than second cousins.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code Chapter 122 – Marriage Same-sex couples qualify on the same terms following a 2020 state constitutional amendment. You do not need to be a Nevada resident or a U.S. citizen.
A 17-year-old may marry only with parental consent and a district court order, after the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the minor’s best interest and free of coercion.3Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.025 – Marriage of Minor Who Is 17 Years of Age Anyone younger cannot marry in Nevada.
Identification You Need to Bring
Each of you needs proof of identity and age. The clerk accepts any of the following:
- Driver’s license or state ID from any U.S. state or territory
- U.S. or foreign passport
- Military ID or military dependent ID
- Certificate of Citizenship, Naturalization, or Permanent Resident Card from USCIS
- Birth certificate paired with a photo ID or another document that required ID verification to obtain
- Other documents showing name and age; if you clearly appear over 25, the clerk has discretion to skip age documentation
The statute gives the clerk real flexibility, so bring what you have. If your ID is unusual, call the bureau at (702) 671-0600 before you go.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.040 – Marriage License Requirements, Issuance by County Clerk
If you’re using a foreign birth certificate that isn’t in English, bring a translation that states it is true and correct, includes the printed name of a qualified translator, and is signed and notarized. Foreign-language passports are generally accepted without translation.1Clark County, NV. Marriage License Requirements
What the Application Asks For
Beyond ID, the application affidavit asks each applicant for a Social Security number. If you don’t have one, you say so, and the clerk cannot deny the license for that reason or require you to prove the number with a card.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.040 – Marriage License Requirements, Issuance by County Clerk
You’ll also give both parents’ first, middle, and last names at birth, along with each parent’s state or country of birth.5Clark County Clerk’s Office. Marriage License Application Any field you don’t know can be marked unknown without losing the license.
Previously married? You’ll need the approximate date and location your last marriage ended by divorce, annulment, or death. Clark County says an estimate is fine if you don’t remember the exact date, and you don’t need to bring the decree.1Clark County, NV. Marriage License Requirements
Where to Go and When It’s Open
The Marriage License Bureau sits at 201 E. Clark Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. It’s open every day of the year, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to midnight.6Clark County, NV. Office Locations Walk-in only; the bureau takes no appointments.7Clark County, NV. Frequently Asked Questions
Fill out the Clark County Clerk’s online pre-application before you arrive. Couples who do get to use the Express Window and skip the longer general line. Most people are in and out in 30 minutes or less with the physical license in hand.
Cost and Payment
The license costs $102, which bundles the clerk’s fee with state-mandated surcharges including the domestic violence victim assistance fund.8Clark County, NV. How to Get Married in Las Vegas9Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.060 – Fees
Cash is accepted at the exact amount. Credit or debit cards add a convenience fee of 2% plus $1.25 per transaction, which comes to roughly $5.29 extra on $102.10Clark County, NV. Fees
If you want to marry at the courthouse right after, the Commissioner of Civil Marriages performs ceremonies for $75 plus a $2.75 card processing fee, totaling $77.75. Only credit and debit cards work for ceremony payments; no cash or checks.11Clark County, NV. Civil Marriage A full courthouse wedding runs about $180 all in.
What the License Does and Doesn’t Do
The license is permission to marry, not proof you’re married. It’s valid for one year from the date issued, anywhere in Nevada.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.040 – Marriage License Requirements, Issuance by County Clerk An expired license can’t be extended; you’d have to apply and pay again.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Nevada authorizes licensed or ordained ministers, certain judges, justices of the peace, the Commissioner of Civil Marriages, and notary publics appointed by the Secretary of State to officiate. The Nevada Secretary of State’s online Marriage Officiant Public Search tool lets you verify an officiant’s active status, though it only returns military and permanent officiants. If your officiant doesn’t appear there, contact the county clerk in the county where the officiant resides.12Nevada Secretary of State. Marriage Officiants
Witness and Filing
At least one witness other than the officiant must be present at the ceremony.13Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 122.110 – No Particular Form of Solemnization Required, Witness Chapels and the civil ceremony office can supply one if you’re eloping.
The officiant is legally responsible for delivering the completed certificate to the county clerk or recorder within 10 days of the ceremony.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code Chapter 122 – Marriage That filing is what turns your ceremony into a recorded marriage, so confirm with your officiant that they’ll handle it promptly. Late filing is a misdemeanor.
Getting Certified Copies
Once the certificate is filed, you can order certified copies as official proof of marriage. Each copy costs $20.10Clark County, NV. Fees Order two or three; you’ll want them for name changes, insurance, and other paperwork. Call the Clark County Clerk’s Office at (702) 671-0580 to order.14Clark County, NV. Marriage Certificates
Name Changes Aren’t Automatic
Marrying in Las Vegas does not change your name on any record. If you plan to take your spouse’s last name, start with the Social Security Administration, which recommends waiting at least 30 days after the wedding before submitting the change so state records can update. You’ll need your certified marriage certificate and proof of identity.15Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change Your Name? Once Social Security is updated, use the new card plus your certificate to update your driver’s license, passport, bank accounts, and employer records.
If You Need the Marriage Recognized Abroad
For use in another country, your marriage certificate typically needs an apostille under the Hague Convention. The Nevada Secretary of State issues apostilles through its Commercial Recordings Division in Carson City, by mail or in person, with the original certified certificate and the destination country noted.16Nevada Secretary of State. Apostille Handle this before leaving Nevada if you can; coordinating it from overseas is harder.