Getting started with Marriage Information for Nevada

Before you plan to perform a wedding in Nevada, it is important to understand the state's legal requirements.

To get started, check out the information provided below for getting ordained and registering as a wedding officiant in Nevada.

If you have questions, please go to our helpful FAQ. For more information or support, please visit our contact us page.

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Step 1: Become Ordained for Nevada

To get ordained and become a minister to perform ceremonies in Nevada, start by completing our ordination application.

Once you have completed the application for ordination you will be sent an email that confirms your ordination. Our ordinations for Nevada are completely free, granted to you for life and can be completed in less than a day. More than half a million people just like you, have registered and received their license to perform weddings.

If you have not completed the application, you can get ordained for free and start your journey as an authorized minister in Nevada with Open Ministry by using the button below!

Get Ordained in Nevada

Step 2: Contact The Nevada County Clerk

Next, contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk in Nevada). Let them know that you are an ordained minister with Open Ministry in California, and ask them what information they require of you, to officiate a marriage in Nevada.

Clerks and governing agencies may require you to present them with a physical copy of your ordination record to register we offer packages which include bundled items at a discount.

When speaking with the Nevada county clerk it can be helpful to use the following phrases:

  • I am an ordained minister with a church ministry in California.
  • I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
  • What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
  • I have my Letter of Good Standing and Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination for Nevada.
  • Do you require any additional documentation for me to register as a wedding officiant in Nevada?

Step 3: Register with the Nevada Clerk

After you've contacted the marriage authority in Nevada, we recommend that you visit the bookstore to get your official credentials for your records, presentation or registration.

See Nevada State Statutes for More specific Requirements

When registering as an officiant in Nevada, you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the Nevada county clerk's office before they will accept the marriage license as having been solemnized. We generally advise ministers of Nevada to get a Complete Membership Package for Nevada which includes a Letter of Good Standing (the live signed and notarized physical copy of your good standing with our ministry) an Ordination Credential, Minister Wallet Card and much more.

Having physical copies of your credentials provides peace of mind for couples and others that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend you give yourself at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your credential request to ensure that you receive all of your materials to register in time.

Please note, that any state or county can impose different requirements;
this may include other nominal fees and additional paperwork that may need to
be completed before the ceremony can take place.

It is important to note that some county clerks in Nevada may require wedding
officiants to attach a statement which asserts some of the elements in the
marriage license upon submission, including the following:

  • The time and location at which the wedding took place
  • The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
  • The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
  • The printed name and address of the officiant

When filling out the Nevada marriage license, Nevada state or the clerk may
request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend".

The clerk may also require you enter your denomination, you can use
"Non-Denominational" or your practicing denomination. Failing to
state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate
marriage license.

Featured Credentials

Step 4: Perform the Ceremony

Before you perform a wedding in Nevada, be sure that the couple has picked up their Nevada state issued marriage license from the appropriate office. Once you have completed the steps listed, you are ready to perform the wedding!

Officiating a wedding in Nevada can be a great and wonderful experience. Work with the couple to determine the proper ceremony format and any details they wish to have. For ideas and inspiration check out our sample ceremony scripts.

We recommend that new ministers who are going to be performing a wedding in Nevada, or who have questions about the ceremony read over our Officiant Guide.

Step 5: Submit the Nevada Marriage License

Nevada marriage licenses are valid for a set number of days, and there may be a waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Nevada and when the ceremony may be legally performed in Nevada.

This information is generally written on the license and must be followed to ensure the ceremony is recorded properly by Nevada.

Please note that the signed marriage license for Nevada must be returned to the issuing office in Nevada state, before the time limit is reached. You can check the marriage license for the exact dates.

After the ceremony, you will need to return the completed and signed marriage license to the Nevada states issuing office. This is essential for the marriage to be legally recorded. In most cases there is an address listed on the marriage license, use that to mail it back to the governing agency so that it can be recorded by the Nevada.

If you have any questions about the returning of the license, contact the Nevada agency that issued it for more information.

Nevada State Minister & Marriage Statutes

If you plan to perform a wedding in Douglas, Elko, Washoe county, you may be required to present the Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriages.

Clark County (Las Vegas) requires that you to complete an online application prior to performing any ceremony. See our blog about registering with Clark County

122.062 Licensed, ordained or appointed ministers, other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage and chaplains of Armed Forces to obtain certificates from county clerk; temporary replacements; solemnization by minister or other authorized person who resides in 

  1. Any licensed, ordained or appointed minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage in good standing within his or her church or religious organization, or either of them, incorporated, organized or established in this State, may join together as husband and wife persons who present a marriage license obtained from any county clerk of the State, if the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage first obtains a certificate of permission to perform marriages as provided in NRS 122.062 to 122.073, inclusive. The fact that a minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage is retired does not disqualify him or her from obtaining a certificate of permission to perform marriages if, before retirement, the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage had active charge of a church or religious organization for a period of at least 3 years.
  2. A temporary replacement for a licensed, ordained or appointed minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage certified pursuant to NRS 122.062 to 122.073, inclusive, may solemnize marriages pursuant to subsection 1 during such time as he or she may be authorized to do so by the county clerk in the county in which he or she is a temporary replacement, for a period not to exceed 90 days. The minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage whom he or she temporarily replaces shall provide him or her with a written authorization which states the period during which it is effective.
  3. Any chaplain who is assigned to duty in this State by the Armed Forces of the United States may solemnize marriages if the chaplain obtains a certificate of permission to perform marriages from the county clerk of the county in which his or her duty station is located. The county clerk shall issue such a certificate to a chaplain upon proof of his or her military status as a chaplain and of his or her assignment.
  4. A county clerk may authorize a licensed, ordained or appointed minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage whose residence and church or religious organization is in another state or who is retired, if his or her service was as described in subsection 1, to perform marriages in the county if the county clerk is satisfied that the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage is in good standing with his or her church or religious organization pursuant to this section. The authorization must be in writing and need not be filed with any other public officer. A separate authorization is required for each marriage performed. Such a minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage may perform not more than five marriages in this State in any calendar year and must acknowledge that he or she is subject to the jurisdiction of the county clerk with respect to the provisions of this chapter governing the conduct of ministers or other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage to the same extent as if he or she were a minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage residing in this State.

 Title 11: Domestic Relations - Chapter 122: Marriage - Certificates of Permission to Perform Marriages (Added to NRS by 1967, 1289; A 1969, 37; 1993, 1462; 1997, 2040; 1999, 520, 541; 2009, 724)

122.066 Database of ministers or other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage; maintenance of database by Secretary of State; entry of certain information into database by county clerk; approval of application for certificate; validity of certificate; revocation 

  1. The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain a statewide database of ministers or other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage. The database must:
    1. Serve as the official list of ministers or other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage approved in this State;
    2. Provide for a single method of storing and managing the official list;
    3. Be a uniform, centralized and interactive database;
    4. Be electronically secure and accessible to each county clerk in this State;
    5. Contain the name, mailing address and other pertinent information of each minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage as prescribed by the Secretary of State; and
    6. Include a unique identifier assigned by the Secretary of State to each minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage.
  2. If the county clerk approves an application for a certificate of permission to perform marriages, the county clerk shall:
    1. Enter all information contained in the application into the electronic statewide database of ministers or other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage maintained by the Secretary of State not later than 10 days after the certificate of permission to perform marriages is approved by the county clerk; and
    2. Provide to the Secretary of State all information related to the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage pursuant to paragraph (e) of subsection 1.
  3. Upon approval of an application pursuant to subsection 2, the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage:
    1. Shall comply with the laws of this State governing the solemnization of marriage and conduct of ministers or other persons authorized to solemnize a marriage;
    2. Is subject to further review or investigation by the county clerk to ensure that he or she continues to meet the statutory requirements for a person authorized to solemnize a marriage; and
    3. Shall provide the county clerk with any changes to his or her status or information, including, without limitation, the address or telephone number of the church or religious organization or any other information pertaining to certification.
  4. A certificate of permission is valid until the county clerk has received an affidavit of revocation of authority to solemnize marriages pursuant to NRS 122.0665.
  5. An affidavit of revocation of authority to solemnize marriages that is received pursuant to subsection 4 must be sent to the county clerk within 5 days after the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage ceased to be a member of the church or religious organization in good standing or ceased to be a minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage for the church or religious organization.
  6. If the county clerk in the county where the certificate of permission was issued has reason to believe that the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage is no longer in good standing within his or her church or religious organization, or that he or she is no longer a minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage, or that such church or religious organization no longer exists, the county clerk may require satisfactory proof of the good standing of the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage. If such proof is not presented within 15 days, the county clerk shall revoke the certificate of permission by amending the electronic record of the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage in the statewide database pursuant to subsection 1.
  7. If any minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage to whom a certificate of permission has been issued severs ties with his or her church or religious organization or moves from the county in which his or her certificate was issued, the certificate shall expire immediately upon such severance or move, and the church or religious organization shall, within 5 days after the severance or move, file an affidavit of revocation of authority to solemnize marriages pursuant to NRS 122.0665. If the minister or other person authorized to solemnize a marriage voluntarily advises the county clerk of the county in which his or her certificate was issued of his or her severance with his or her church or religious organization, or that he or she has moved from the county, the certificate shall expire immediately upon such severance or move without any notification to the county clerk by the church or religious organization.
  8. The Secretary of State may adopt regulations concerning the creation and administration of the statewide database. This section does not prohibit the Secretary of State from making the database publicly accessible for the purpose of viewing ministers or other persons who are authorized to solemnize a marriage in this State. 

Title 11: Domestic Relations - Chapter 122: Marriage - Authentication of Marriage - Certificates of Permission to Perform Marriages (Added to NRS by 1967, 1290; A 1969, 92; 1971, 1550; 2009, 728)