Legal How-To: Getting Married in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a popular wedding destination. But despite pop culture depicting Sin City as the place to go for quickie marriages, there are still a few legal requirements that must be met before your Vegas wedding dream becomes a reality.

Here's a general legal overview of how to get married in Las Vegas:

1. Get a marriage license. The first step to getting married in Las Vegas is to apply for a marriage license. Both parties must appear in person at a Clark County Marriage Bureau location and present proper identification with your age and name. There's no waiting period, so couples will get their marriage license the same day they apply. Plus, the marriage bureau is open from 8 a.m. to midnight daily.
2. Do you have legal consent to get married? Before you can legally get married, both parties must have legal capacity to enter into the marriage. This means that if you were previously married, your divorce must be finalized before you can remarry. Also, if you're between the ages of 16 and 17, you must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
3. The officiant must be certified by the county clerk. Your officiant must obtain a Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriages from a Nevada county clerk in order to legally perform the marriage. So while a minister ordained online may be able to perform your ceremony, you should double check with the Nevada Marriage Officiant Public Search to make sure the person you've chosen is certified.
4. Submit documentation to your county recorder's office. According to the Clark County Clerk's Office, whoever officiates your wedding has 10 days to submit documentation to the recorder's office for your marriage to be recorded. After it's recorded, a marriage certificate will be issued. This certifies that the marriage has taken place and makes you two an official married couple.

Need More Help?

At this time, Nevada law only allows a male and female to be married, so same-sex couples seeking domestic partnership should contact Nevada's Secretary of State's office for more information.

If you need more legal advice on how to get married in Las Vegas, consult a family law attorney who practices there or in a city near you.

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Related Resources:

• Need help with a family law? A lawyer can review your case for free. (Consumer Injury)
• Wedding Legal Requirements (Vegas.com)
• Marriage Annulments: 3 Things You Should Know (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• Destination Weddings: Legal Issues to Remember (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• Sign Up for Our Free Legal Planning Newsletter (FindLaw's Legal Heads-Up)