Couple holding Nevada marriage license at Las Vegas wedding ceremony — Clark County Bureau

Las Vegas Weddings · Marriage License

Las Vegas Marriage License Guide

No waiting period. No blood test. Open every day including holidays. Here's everything you need to know about getting married in Nevada.

Get Your Questions Answered

$102

Cost

None

Waiting Period

8AM – Midnight

Hours

1 Year

Valid For

Clark County Marriage License Bureau

How to Get a Nevada Marriage License

Bureau Location & Hours

Address

201 E. Clark Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(Downtown Las Vegas)

Hours

Open every day, 365 days a year
8:00 AM – 12:00 AM (midnight)
Including all holidays

Cost

$102
Cash, credit, or debit

Pro tip

Complete the online pre-application first to access the express line and save wait time.

Fees and hours are set by Clark County and can change — confirm current details with the official Clark County Clerk. Last verified September 2026.

Step-by-Step Process

Optional: Pre-Apply Online

Visit the Clark County online portal to complete your pre-application. You'll receive a confirmation number that gets you into the express line.

Both Partners Appear in Person

You must both be present at the bureau. Bring your valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport). Both must be 18 or older.

Pay the $102 Fee

Cash, credit card, or debit card accepted. No check. The fee is non-refundable.

Receive Your License

Your license is issued immediately — no waiting period. It is valid for one year and is recognized in all 50 US states and many countries.

Get Married & File

After your ceremony, your officiant and one witness sign the license, and your officiant files it with the Clark County Recorder within 10 days. Once it's filed you order certified copies of your marriage certificate — see below.

License vs. Certificate — Know the Difference

The marriage license is Clark County's permission to marry. You buy it before the ceremony, and it is only valid for a wedding held in Nevada. The marriage certificate is the legal record that the wedding happened — it is created after your officiant files the signed license, and it is the document you'll actually need for a name change, immigration, or spousal benefits. You order certified copies of the certificate separately, from the Clark County Recorder.

Eligibility

Who Can Get a Nevada Marriage License

Age

Both partners must be 18 or older to marry freely. A 17-year-old may marry only with notarized parental consent plus authorization from a Nevada district court, and only if the age difference between the parties is three years or less. No license is issued to anyone under 17.

Previously divorced or widowed

You must state the month, year, and place your most recent marriage ended. The bureau accepts your sworn statement — you do not need to bring the divorce decree or the death certificate. Not knowing the exact date is the most common reason couples lose their place in line.

Out-of-state couples

No residency requirement — most couples marrying in Las Vegas live somewhere else. Just remember the license only works for a ceremony held in Nevada; you cannot take it home and marry there. The certificate you receive afterward is valid in every US state.

International couples

The process is the same — bring your passports. If your home country needs to recognize the marriage, the certificate will require an Apostille or embassy legalization. See our guide for international couples, and ask us about Apostille handling.

Guide for international couples →

Same-sex couples

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Nevada since 2014, and the license process is identical for every couple.

LGBTQ+ weddings in Las Vegas →

At the Ceremony

Do You Need a Witness?

Yes — Nevada requires one witness, aged 18 or older, to sign the marriage license at the ceremony. Only one is required, though you can have more.

If you're eloping with no guests, this is not a problem. LVWC provides a qualified witness at no additional cost for every ceremony, so a private, two-person elopement is completely valid. Our full guide to witness requirements covers the details, and our Sign & Go ceremony is built for exactly this.

27+ Years at the Bureau

Mistakes We Actually See Couples Make

Forgetting the exact divorce date

If either of you was previously married, the bureau needs the month and year the divorce was finalized — not just "a few years ago." Couples who don't know this off-hand are sent to look it up on the spot, which can mean losing your place in line.

Assuming you need a blood test or physical

Nevada has required neither for decades, but it's still the single most common question couples ask us before arriving. Skip the doctor's visit entirely.

Showing up on a Friday or Saturday without pre-applying

Weekend lines can run long, especially around Valentine's Day or repeating-number dates like 8/8 or 10/10. The free online pre-application takes five minutes and gets you into the express line — most couples skip it and regret it.

Not knowing the fee is cash, credit, or debit only

The bureau does not accept personal checks. It's a small detail, but it's the kind of thing that causes an unnecessary ATM run on your wedding day.

Waiting to look up how to order the certified certificate

The bureau hands you a card with a website URL for ordering certified copies after your officiant files the license — but plenty of couples misplace it in the excitement of the day. Your officiant should have this covered, but it's worth asking directly.

After the Wedding

Certified Copies & Changing Your Name

Ordering certified copies

Your officiant has 10 days from the ceremony to file the signed license with the Clark County Recorder. Once it's on file — usually within a few business days — you can order certified copies online, by mail, or in person for a per-copy fee. Order two or three: agencies keep the copy you send them.

Changing your name

A certified marriage certificate is all you need for a routine name change after marriage — Nevada does not require a court order. Work through the agencies in this order:

1 Social Security Administration — file Form SS-5 with your certificate; the new card is free and everything else keys off it.
2 State DMV — update your driver's license or ID once the Social Security record has changed (usually a couple of days).
3 U.S. passport — submit the name-change application with your certificate; the fee depends on how recently your passport was issued.
4 Bank, employer, insurance, voter registration — update these last, once your ID and Social Security card match.

Las Vegas marriage license information guide — Clark County requirements and process

Marriage License FAQs

How much does a Nevada marriage license cost?

The Clark County marriage license fee is $102, payable by cash, credit card, or debit card — no personal checks. The fee is set by the county and is non-refundable, even if you never use the license.

Is there a waiting period?

No. Nevada has no waiting period and no blood test or medical exam requirement. Your license is valid the moment it is issued and remains valid for one year from that date.

What do we need to bring?

Both partners must appear together, in person, each with a valid government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. You do not need a birth certificate, and you do not need to bring a copy of a divorce decree.

Do we need an appointment?

No appointment is required and walk-ins are always accepted. Completing the free online pre-application on the Clark County Clerk's website first gives you a confirmation number for the express line, which meaningfully shortens the wait on busy days.

What is the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate?

The license is the county's permission to marry — you buy it before the ceremony and it is only valid in Nevada. The certificate is the legal proof that the marriage took place — it is created after your officiant files the signed license, and it is the document you use for a name change, immigration, or benefits.

How old do you have to be to get married in Nevada?

Both partners must be 18 or older to marry without restriction. A 17-year-old may marry only with notarized parental consent and authorization from a Nevada district court, and the age gap between the parties cannot exceed three years. Nobody under 17 can be issued a license.

What if one of us was previously divorced or widowed?

You must state the month, year, and city/state where the most recent marriage ended — by divorce, annulment, or the death of a spouse. You do not need to bring the decree or death certificate; the bureau takes your sworn statement. Couples who do not know the exact date are often sent out of line to look it up.

Do we need a witness at the ceremony?

Yes. Nevada requires one witness, aged 18 or older, to sign the marriage license at the ceremony. If you are eloping with no guests, LVWC provides a witness at no extra charge.

Can we use a Nevada marriage license in our home state or country?

You must be married in Nevada — the license cannot be used to hold a ceremony in another state. Once you are married here, the resulting marriage certificate is recognized in all 50 states and, with an Apostille, in most countries.

We are an international couple — anything different for us?

The process is identical; bring your passports. If you need the marriage recognized abroad, your certificate will require an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or embassy legalization. LVWC handles Apostille authentication — see our guide for international couples.

Is same-sex marriage available in Las Vegas?

Yes. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Nevada since 2014 and the license process is exactly the same for every couple.

When should we expect the Marriage Bureau to be busy?

Friday and Saturday evenings, Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, and repeating-number dates like 7/7 or 8/8 draw the biggest crowds. On those days, arrive early or use the online pre-application and express line.

How do we get our official marriage certificate afterward?

Your officiant has 10 days to file the signed license with the Clark County Recorder. Once it is filed, you order certified copies from the Recorder's office online, by mail, or in person, for a per-copy fee. LVWC gives every couple the filing details before they leave.

How do we change our name after the wedding?

Use a certified marriage certificate (order two or three copies). Update the Social Security Administration first, then your state DMV, then your passport, bank, and employer. Nevada does not require a court order for a routine post-marriage name change.

Ready for the Ceremony?