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Planning Guide
How to Get a Las Vegas Marriage License (2026 Guide)
Getting a marriage license in Las Vegas is famously simple: no blood test, no waiting period, and a license bureau that stays open late every day of the year. Simple is not the same as foolproof, though, and a wrong name spelling or the wrong ID can stall a wedding morning.
This is the guide we give our own couples. It covers what to bring, where to go, what it costs, and what happens after the ceremony, so the paperwork is the easiest part of your day. Rules and fees can change, so confirm the details on Clark County's official marriage license page before you go.
Step 1: Start the application online
Clark County lets you start your marriage license application online before you visit. Your application stays in the system for one year, so there is no reason to leave it until wedding week. Enter both names exactly as they appear on the ID you will bring; a mismatch is the most common reason couples get sent back to the line.
Step 2: Visit the Marriage License Bureau together
Both of you must appear in person, at the same time, at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, 201 E. Clark Avenue in downtown Las Vegas, a few blocks south of the Fremont Street Experience. No appointment is needed for a standard license. The paperwork itself often takes about fifteen minutes, but lines run long on weekends, holidays and popular dates, so build in a buffer.
The license fee is $102. Credit and debit cards are accepted with a processing fee; checks are not.
What to bring
Each of you needs an original, unexpired government photo ID proving your name and age, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport or permanent resident card. Photocopies and digital IDs are not accepted. If you are a U.S. citizen with a Social Security number, you will be asked to provide it.
You must be at least 18, not currently married, and not related closer than second cousins. If your divorce decree lets you use a name different from your ID, bring the decree.
Step 3: The ceremony
There is no waiting period in Nevada. You can marry the same day your license is issued, anywhere in Nevada your officiant is willing to perform the ceremony: a chapel, a resort ballroom, a desert canyon. Your officiant must be authorized to perform marriages in Nevada, and you need at least one witness to sign.
Bringing an officiant from out of state? They can apply for permission to perform a single ceremony in Nevada. Start that process about three months ahead.
Step 4: Order your certified marriage certificate
After the ceremony, your officiant files the marriage certificate with Clark County, by law within ten days. Once it is recorded, you can order certified copies online for $20 each. You will need a certified copy to change your name with Social Security, the DMV and your bank.
Marrying abroad-bound? Some countries require an apostille to recognize a Nevada marriage. The Nevada Secretary of State issues apostilles; check your home country's requirements early.
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Questions, answered
How much is a marriage license in Las Vegas?
The Clark County marriage license fee is $102. Credit and debit cards are accepted with an added processing fee, and checks are not accepted.
Where do you get a marriage license in Las Vegas?
At the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, 201 E. Clark Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101, in downtown Las Vegas. Both partners must appear in person together. You can start the application online first to save time.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Las Vegas?
No. Nevada has no waiting period and no blood test, so you can marry the same day your license is issued.
What ID do you need for a Nevada marriage license?
An original, unexpired government photo ID for each partner that proves name and age, such as a driver's license, state ID, passport or permanent resident card. Photocopies and digital IDs are not accepted.
Do you need a witness to get married in Las Vegas?
Yes. At least one witness must sign your marriage certificate, along with a Nevada-authorized officiant.
How do I get a copy of my Las Vegas marriage certificate?
After your officiant files the certificate with Clark County, order certified copies online from the county for $20 each. You will need one to change your name.
Can a wedding planner handle our marriage license?
You and your partner must appear in person to get the license, but a planner builds the bureau visit into your wedding-week timeline, arranges your officiant and witness, and makes sure the signed certificate gets filed. That is part of every Scheme wedding.
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