How to Get Married in Nevada (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Nevada · Last updated 2026-05-18
Marriage formation in Nevada follows Nevada-specific family law from the license application onward. Between license issuance and the ceremony itself, the rule is: There is no waiting period. The license validity window is: 1 year. On informal marriage, No common-law marriages after March 29, 1943. What follows is the Nevada sequence, the documents, and the officiant rules that complete a lawful marriage.
Key Considerations
A Nevada marriage starts with a license, and a license starts with two threshold questions: cost and age eligibility. The cost question runs to the issuing clerk: $21. See the state agency website. The age question is set by the state marriage code: A minor who is 17 years of age may marry only if the minor has the consent of: (a) Either parent; or (b) The minor's legal guardian, and the minor also obtains authorization from a district court as provided in this section. See the state agency website. Both are settled before any application is signed.
Timing matters in Nevada on two fronts. After the license is issued, the waiting-period rule may delay a lawful ceremony: There is no waiting period. See the state agency website. Once the license is in hand, it does not last indefinitely: 1 year. See the state agency website. Couples plan the ceremony date inside that bracket.
Marriage formation in Nevada turns on two rules beyond the license. The state's common-law-marriage status is the first: No common-law marriages after March 29, 1943. See the state agency website#NRS122Sec010. The authorized-officiant list is the second: Any licensed, ordained or appointed minister, other church or religious official, notary public, or marriage officiant may perform marriages if they first obtain a certificate of permission from the county clerk. See the state agency website. Both are statutory; private agreement does not override either one.
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Relevant Documents
Nevada couples typically present this stack at the clerk's office: the completed marriage-license application, valid government photo identification, and (where applicable) the premarital-course completion certificate. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. Payment of the marriage-license fee is handled at the counter when the Nevada application is filed.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Marriage License Requirements (NRS 122.040)
In Nevada, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear together at a county clerk's office with valid identification. There is no waiting period in Nevada, and licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance.
Age Requirements (NRS 122.020)
Nevada law requires both parties to be 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. Individuals who are 17 may marry with the consent of at least one parent or legal guardian. Under special circumstances, those 16 years old may marry with both parental consent and judicial approval.
Marriage Ceremony Options (NRS 122.062)
Nevada offers various options for marriage ceremonies. Couples can choose between religious ceremonies, civil ceremonies performed by judges or justices of the peace, or ceremonies by commissioners of civil marriages. Las Vegas is famous for its wedding chapels that offer quick ceremonies without appointments.
Community Property Laws (NRS 123.220)
Nevada is a community property state, meaning that most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are considered jointly owned by both spouses, regardless of whose name is on the title. Understanding these laws is important for financial planning before marriage.
Prenuptial Agreements (NRS 123A)
Nevada recognizes prenuptial agreements under the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act. These agreements allow couples to determine in advance how their assets will be divided in case of divorce, potentially overriding community property laws. To be valid, these agreements must be in writing and signed by both parties.
Regional Variances
Major Cities in Nevada
Las Vegas is known for its quick and easy marriage process. No waiting period is required, and marriage licenses are issued on the same day at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, which is open 7 days a week, including holidays, from 8am to midnight. The license is valid for one year from the date of issue. Las Vegas also offers numerous wedding chapels and venues that can perform ceremonies 24/7, including drive-through weddings.
Often called the 'Divorce Capital' historically, Reno is also popular for marriages. The Washoe County Marriage License Bureau issues licenses with no waiting period. Reno offers a more subdued alternative to Las Vegas but still provides quick ceremonies. Marriage licenses are valid for one year from issuance date.
As the state capital, Carson City has its own marriage license requirements administered through the Carson City Clerk-Recorder's office. No blood tests or waiting periods are required, and the license is valid for one year. The office has more limited hours than Las Vegas, typically operating during standard business hours on weekdays.
Rural Counties in Nevada
In Elko County, marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Unlike Las Vegas, services are not available on weekends or holidays, which may require additional planning for couples. The license is still valid for one year with no waiting period.
Humboldt County issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk's office in Winnemucca. Hours are limited to weekday business hours, and it's advisable to call ahead. While Nevada's no-waiting-period policy applies here too, the rural nature of the county means fewer officiants and venue options are available compared to urban areas.
Tribal Jurisdictions
For marriages on Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal lands, couples should be aware that while Nevada state law applies broadly, tribal authorities may have additional requirements or ceremonies for marriages involving tribal members. It's advisable to contact tribal offices directly for specific guidance.
Marriages involving tribal members may incorporate traditional Native American ceremonies alongside legal requirements. While Nevada marriage licenses are still required, couples should consult with tribal authorities regarding any additional permissions or ceremonial aspects if the wedding will take place on tribal lands.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Submit the Nevada marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after starting$21. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree.
Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application
Before the ceremony days after startingStandard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married.
Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing.
Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date
Before applying days after starting1 year. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply.
Calendar the post-license waiting period (if any) before the ceremony
Before the ceremony days after startingThere is no waiting period. Scheduling the ceremony inside the waiting window will make the marriage unenforceable, so the date must fall on or after the earliest lawful day.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingAny licensed, ordained or appointed minister, other church or religious official, notary public, or marriage officiant may perform marriages if they first obtain a certificate of permission from the county clerk. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony
After the ceremony days after startingRecording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit the Nevada marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office | $21. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application | Standard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date | 1 year. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply. | - | Before applying |
| Calendar the post-license waiting period (if any) before the ceremony | There is no waiting period. Scheduling the ceremony inside the waiting window will make the marriage unenforceable, so the date must fall on or after the earliest lawful day. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | Any licensed, ordained or appointed minister, other church or religious official, notary public, or marriage officiant may perform marriages if they first obtain a certificate of permission from the county clerk. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | At the ceremony |
| Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony | Recording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
No common-law marriages after March 29, 1943. Where a state does still recognize common-law marriage, the elements (present-tense agreement to be married, cohabitation in the state, holding out as married) vary in detail, and a couple relying on the doctrine should document each element.
$21. Applicants should plan to confirm the current dollar amount directly with the Nevada issuing clerk that will handle the application, since the published fee schedule can change and county add-ons (where allowed) shift the total.
There is no waiting period. Couples planning a Nevada ceremony should calendar the earliest lawful date from license issuance and book the ceremony on or after that day; a ceremony performed before the period runs is not a lawful marriage.
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