Las Vegas Marriage License: The Complete Guide

Requirements — What You Need to Bring

Clark County issues more marriage licenses per year than nearly any other county in the United States. The reason is simple: low barriers, extended hours, and no waiting period. Here is everything both parties must have to walk out with a valid license:

Do You Need to Be a Nevada Resident?

No. There is no residency requirement to marry in Nevada. Couples from any U.S. state or any country in the world can obtain a Clark County marriage license and marry in Nevada. This is one of the reasons Las Vegas attracts destination weddings from every corner of the globe. You do not need to own property in Nevada, have a Nevada ID, or even have visited before.

Where to Get Your License: Clark County Marriage Bureau

There is exactly one place to obtain a marriage license in Clark County: the Clark County Marriage Bureau. No courthouse, no county clerk office — the Bureau is a dedicated facility built for exactly this purpose.

The Bureau is open from 8:00 AM to midnight every single day of the year — including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and every other holiday. If you want to get married at 11:30 PM on Christmas Eve, that is perfectly legal and possible. This extended availability is unique in the United States and is one of the defining features of Las Vegas as a wedding destination.

The facility is located in downtown Las Vegas, about a 10-minute drive from the Strip. Parking is available nearby. The Bureau handles the license issuance only — your ceremony can take place at any authorized venue in Nevada.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Married in Las Vegas

From start to finish, getting legally married in Las Vegas involves six steps. The entire process — license through ceremony — can happen in a single day.

• 1
  Prepare your marriage documents online (before you travel) Use CourtFree to generate your marriage certificate template and ceremony package in 15 minutes. This is done before your trip — so everything is organized and ready when you arrive in Las Vegas. $299 flat.
• 2
  Go to the Clark County Marriage Bureau Both parties arrive at 201 Clark Ave with valid photo ID. No appointment needed. Open every day until midnight. Bring $102 (cash or card) for the license fee.
• 3
  Complete the application and receive your license Fill out a short application form at the Bureau window. Provide your ID, pay the fee, and receive your marriage license. The process takes 10–15 minutes once you're at the window. Your license is valid for 1 year, anywhere in Nevada.
• 4
  Have your ceremony with an authorized officiant Your officiant must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Nevada (ministers, judges, justices of the peace). The ceremony can take place at a chapel, hotel, outdoor venue, or anywhere in Nevada. The Clark County Marriage Bureau also has an on-site Commissioner of Civil Marriages.
• 5
  Officiant files the signed certificate After the ceremony, your officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Clark County Recorder's Office. This must be done within a set time frame. Your officiant handles this step — you do not need to return to the courthouse yourself.
• 6
  Obtain certified copies of your marriage certificate Once the certificate is filed, you can request certified copies from the Clark County Recorder's Office — in person or by mail. Each certified copy costs approximately $17–$20. You'll need at least one for name change purposes and legal documentation.

Ceremony Options in Las Vegas

Once you have your license, you have near-total flexibility on how and where you hold your ceremony. Las Vegas has more wedding venues per square mile than almost anywhere on earth — from a 5-minute courthouse ceremony to elaborate productions at resort hotels.

Who Can Officiate Your Marriage in Nevada?

Nevada law (NRS 122.062) allows the following people to solemnize a marriage:

• A minister, priest, or rabbi of any religious denomination
• A judge of any Nevada court
• A justice of the peace
• The Commissioner of Civil Marriages (Clark County)
• Any person ordained by a recognized religious organization

Online-ordained officiants (via organizations like Universal Life Church) are generally accepted in Nevada — but check with your venue or the Clark County Marriage Bureau for the latest guidance. Your officiant must physically attend and conduct the ceremony; remote or proxy officiants are not permitted.

Do You Need Witnesses?

Nevada law does not require witnesses at a marriage ceremony. However, many chapels and venues include witnesses as a standard part of their packages. If your officiant requests a witness and you don't have one, most chapels can provide one as part of their service.

Full Cost Breakdown

Getting legally married in Las Vegas can cost as little as a few hundred dollars or as much as tens of thousands — the variance is almost entirely in the ceremony, not the license. Here's the full cost picture:

Las Vegas vs. Getting Married Elsewhere in Nevada

Your Clark County marriage license is valid anywhere in Nevada — not just Las Vegas. If you want to get your license in Las Vegas and have your ceremony in Red Rock Canyon, Lake Tahoe, or another Nevada location, you can. The license is not geographically restricted within the state.

Clark County has the highest license fee in Nevada, but it's the only county open past 5 PM and on weekends — making it the essential choice for anyone on a vacation schedule or planning a weekend or evening wedding. Reno (Washoe County) is the main alternative for northern Nevada weddings, but its limited hours make it impractical for most destination couples.

Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate — Know the Difference

This is one of the most common sources of confusion, and getting it wrong can delay your name change or create legal headaches. They are two distinct documents:

The marriage license expires if you never have the ceremony. The marriage certificate is the permanent legal record. For name changes, government benefits, insurance updates, and all other legal purposes, you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate — not the license. These are different documents and cannot be substituted for each other.

Certified copies of the marriage certificate are available from the Clark County Recorder's Office at approximately $17–$20 per copy. Request at least two: one for Social Security and one as a backup.

After the Ceremony — What to Do Next

Your officiant handles filing the marriage certificate with the Clark County Recorder. Once that's done, the legal record exists and you can request certified copies. Here's what to do in the weeks after your Las Vegas wedding:

• Request 2–3 certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Clark County Recorder's Office
• If changing your name: update Social Security first (see name change section below)
• Update your driver's license or state ID at the Nevada DMV (or your home state DMV)
• Update your U.S. passport — name change passport applications require your marriage certificate
• Notify your employer's HR department for tax forms, benefits, and payroll updates
• Update beneficiary designations on life insurance, retirement accounts, and 401(k)s
• Update bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts
• Update voter registration in your state
• Notify the Social Security Administration if your name changed (this must be done first)
• Review and update your will and estate planning documents if applicable

Name Change After Marriage in Nevada

Name changes after marriage are handled through a series of government agencies in a specific order. The Social Security Administration must be updated first — every other agency builds on your updated Social Security record. The process typically takes 4–8 weeks from start to finish.

1. 1
   Social Security Administration (First) File Form SS-5 with your certified marriage certificate and current ID. Free. Can be done in person at any SSA office or by mail. Your updated Social Security card arrives in 2–4 weeks. This is the required first step — DMV and passport will ask for your updated SSN record.
2. 2
   Driver's License / State ID Visit your home state's DMV with your certified marriage certificate, current license, and proof of SSN update. Fee varies by state ($10–$40). Nevada DMV: visit any office or complete eligible changes online.
3. 3
   U.S. Passport Submit Form DS-5504 (free within 1 year of issuance) or DS-82 (fee applies for older passports) with your certified marriage certificate. Standard processing takes 6–8 weeks; expedited is 2–3 weeks for a fee. If you travel internationally soon, apply for expedited service.
4. 4
   Bank Accounts and Financial Institutions Visit or contact each bank and investment account holder with your updated government ID and marriage certificate. Most banks handle name changes in one visit. Update online banking login credentials after accounts are updated.
5. 5
   Employer HR and Tax Records Submit a new W-4 form and notify HR. Update direct deposit and benefits. If your name changes mid-year, this affects your W-2 — make sure HR has the update before your next payroll cycle.
6. 6
   Voter Registration Update in your home state. Can usually be done online in minutes. Most states allow name-change updates through the DMV name-change process simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I get a Las Vegas marriage license online? +
  Nevada does not allow fully online marriage license issuance. Both parties must appear in person at the Clark County Marriage Bureau (201 Clark Ave, Las Vegas). However, CourtFree prepares all your marriage documentation online before you arrive — certificate template, ceremony package, and filing instructions — so the Bureau visit is your only in-person requirement.
• How long does it take to get a Las Vegas marriage license? +
  Once you're at the window, the process takes 10–20 minutes. Wait times vary: weekday mornings are typically 5–10 minutes; Friday and Saturday evenings can be 30–60 minutes. The Bureau is open until midnight, so arriving by 10 PM is generally fine even on busy nights. No appointment is ever required.
• How much does a Las Vegas marriage license cost? +
  The Clark County marriage license costs $102 — paid at the Marriage Bureau by cash or credit/debit card. This covers the government license only. Ceremony costs, officiant fees, and document preparation (like CourtFree's $299 package) are separate. The total for a basic same-day wedding in Las Vegas can be under $300 if you use the on-site civil ceremony option.
• Is there a waiting period for a Las Vegas marriage license? +
  No waiting period. Nevada law imposes no cooling-off period between license issuance and the ceremony. You can receive your license and get married within the same hour. Your license is valid for one year from the date it is issued — anywhere in Nevada.
• Can foreigners get married in Las Vegas? +
  Yes — without restriction. There is no residency or citizenship requirement to marry in Nevada. Foreign nationals need a valid passport as their ID. The resulting marriage is a valid U.S. legal document. International recognition depends on your home country's laws — most countries recognize foreign marriages, but check with your embassy if you're unsure. If needed for your home country, the Nevada Secretary of State can apostille your marriage certificate.
• What is the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate? +
  The marriage license is issued before the ceremony — it is government permission to marry. It must be used within 1 year. The marriage certificate is the legal record that a marriage occurred — completed and signed by the officiant after the ceremony, then filed with the Clark County Recorder. For name changes and all legal purposes, you need a certified copy of the certificate, not the license.
• What if one of us was previously married? +
  You may be asked the date your prior marriage ended — by divorce or death of spouse. In most cases, you don't need to bring paperwork — knowing the approximate date is enough. Clark County imposes no waiting period after a prior divorce. There is no restriction on how many times a person can marry in Nevada, provided all prior marriages have been legally dissolved.
• Is a Las Vegas marriage legally valid everywhere in the U.S.? +
  Yes. A marriage legally performed in Nevada is recognized as valid throughout the United States under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Every state must recognize a marriage that was legally performed in another state. This applies to all legal marriages regardless of the couple's home state or circumstances.
• What happens if we lose our marriage certificate? +
  You can request certified copies from the Clark County Recorder's Office at any time — in person, by mail, or online. Each certified copy costs approximately $17–$20. There is no limit on how many copies you can request. Keep at least two certified copies: one for name changes and one as a permanent backup in a safe location.
• How do I change my name after getting married in Las Vegas? +
  Start with the Social Security Administration (Form SS-5 — free). Then update your driver's license at your home state's DMV, followed by your passport if needed (Form DS-5504 or DS-82). Then update banks, employer HR, insurance, and voter registration. Order matters: SSA first, DMV second, then everything else. The certified marriage certificate is the document each agency requires.

Disclaimer: CourtFree is a legal document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Marriage license fees, Bureau hours, and county procedures are subject to change — verify current information with the Clark County Marriage Bureau before your visit. Last verified May 2026.