How to Get Legally Married in Las Vegas

How to Get Legally Married in Las Vegas

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25 July, 2014

Las Vegas is one of the easiest destinations worldwide in which to get married, hence its reputation as the unofficial 'wedding capital of the globe'. Couples can marry indoors, outdoors, in a chapel or at a drive-thru, and anyone from a Priest to a Rabbi, or even Elvis can officiate, provided they are appropriately authorized of course! Here's the process you'll need to follow.

Obtain a Marriage Licence

Las Vegas falls under the jurisdiction of Clark County Nevada, and both applicants will need to appear in person before a Clerk of the Clark County Marriage Bureau. The main bureau is located in downtown Las Vegas at 201 E Clark Avenue, Las Vegas. No appointment is necessary and the bureau is open from 8:00am until midnight, seven days a week, including all holidays. There are several other bureaus located throughout Nevada, and you can also obtain a marriage licence from any of these, however opening hours will be shorter so you should check ahead of time if you are planning on visiting an outlying bureau.

The paperwork can be completed at the bureau, or you can complete it online prior to visiting the marriage bureau. Couples who plan to obtain their marriage license during holidays and peak periods such as Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve are advised to complete an online application to avoid lengthy delays. Once you have completed an online application, the information remains in the system for 60 days, and once at the bureau couples can proceed directly to an 'Express Window' to provide their reference number, along with the relevant identity documents.

Marriage licenses are issued to couples immediately after their application has been processed by the Clerk. There is no waiting period to get married after the license has been issued, and the license is valid for one year from the date of issue. Please note that a Marriage License allows couples to marry in the State of Nevada. It is not proof of marriage.

Legal Requirements

These are the same for both U.S. and non U.S. citizens.

1. Applicants must be a male and a female.

2. You must both be over 18 years of age (although applicants under the age of 18 can marry if a consenting parent or legal guardian is present, and applicants under the age of 16 can marry with a court order)

3. You must not be related (no nearer of kin than second cousins or cousins of half blood)

4. You must not be currently married (either to another spouse or to the current applicant - the bureau is prohibited from issuing a new marriage license to a couple who are currently married. If you wish to renew your vows, you can do so in a symbolic - non legal - ceremony, and you should contact your wedding chapel or wedding officiant to discuss this).

Identification Requirements

You will both need to provide documents that show your name and date of birth, and you can view a list of acceptable documents on the bureau's website. U.S. citizens will also need to quote their Social Security number (you do not need to present your card), and non U.S. citizens or those without a Social Security number can simply indicate 'none' in the relevant field. Please note that your marriage license will be prepared with your name exactly as it appears on your identity documents. For example, if you would like your full middle name or names to appear on the licence, be sure to provide documents that state your full middle name/s and not just your initials.

Fees

The fee for a marriage license is US $60, payable by cash, credit card, traveller's cheque or money order. Debit cards are not accepted and an additional US $5 fee is payable for credit card transactions.

The Wedding Ceremony

Once you have obtained a marriage licence, your wedding ceremony can take place in any church, chapel, or any other venue or location within the state of Nevada, where your marriage officiant is willing to perform the ceremony. You can also marry at the Office of Civil Marriages in Las Vegas, at 330 S. 3rd Street, 6th floor, Suite 660, Las Vegas, however all ceremonies are by appointment only.

In order for your marriage to be legal and valid, the officiant performing your ceremony must hold a Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriages issued by a County Clerk from the State of Nevada. Almost all commercial wedding chapels, churches and other wedding venues in Las Vegas only use authorised officiants, however you should always confirm this prior to your ceremony, and it's possible to search an online database of registered marriage officiants. Couples who wish to have their own minister from outside the State of Nevada perform their marriage, can arrange for him/her to obtain authorization to solemnize a single marriage ceremony in Nevada. The minister must contact the marriage bureau to lodge an application and they should allow 4 to 6 weeks to obtain the relevant authorization.

Once the officiant has performed your ceremony, they have ten days to notify the Clark County Recorder's Office that the marriage has taken place. You can then order a certified copy of your marriage certificate online from the Recorder's Office.

Non U.S. Citizens

Some nationalities require an Apostilles (Authentication of Signatures) to register and finalize a marriage in a foreign country. Your own embassy can advise you if this is necessary and if so, you will need to obtain it via the Nevada Secretary of State. A certified copy of your marriage certificate can be purchased online via the Recorder's Office (see above), however if you require a certified copy of the marriage , you should arrange to purchase a copy from the marriage bureau at the time of applying for the license, as these are not available for purchase online.

Same Sex Marriage

Same sex marriage is not permitted under Nevada law. The applicants must be a biological male and a biological female in order to legally wed.

Divorced or Widowed Applicants

Divorced applicants will need to advise the date that their divorced was finalised, along with the city and state where it was finalised. Similarly, widowed applicants will need to advise the date, city and state of their spouse's death. A copy of the Divorce Decree or Death Certificate is not required.

For more information, visit; http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/clerk/services/pages/marriagelicenses.aspx Image Credits: 1, 2 & 4 - Trip Advisor / 3 - Beautiful Moments Photography

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