Your Vegas Marriage License: Where to Go, What to Bring, and How Long It Takes

If you are flying in for a weekend wedding or planning a chapel ceremony after work, the one task that makes everything legal is picking up the license. In Clark County, the Marriage License Bureau issues licenses from 8 a.m.–midnight every day, and that includes holidays. Most couples are in and out in about 15 minutes once they reach the counter, so with a little planning, the paperwork will be the easiest part of your day.

The fastest legal step in your wedding day

The Marriage License Bureau is downtown at 201 E. Clark Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101. It is open 365 days a year from morning to midnight. There are no appointments for licenses here. You walk in together with identification, and a clerk prints the license while you wait.

If you want a smoother visit, complete the online pre-application before you arrive. The County keeps your application on file for one year, and your confirmation number lets the clerk pull it up quickly when you arrive. Submitting the online form does not issue the license; you still must appear in person together at one of the County’s offices to receive it.

Timing your visit helps. The Clerk reports that Sundays and Tuesdays are typically the least busy days, and the lightest times are 8–10 a.m. and again from 8 p.m. to midnight. If you are planning a ceremony on a high-demand date or around a holiday, those later evening hours are a reliable pressure valve.

Your license is valid anywhere in Nevada and it is good for one year from the date of issuance. There is no waiting period and no blood test in Nevada, which is why a same-day ceremony is not just possible but common. The ceremony itself must take place in Nevada and be performed by a Nevada-licensed officiant.

Where and when do we pick up the license?

Most couples use the downtown Marriage License Bureau because it is open the longest hours and every single day. If you are staying off-Strip or elsewhere in the county, Clark County also staffs satellite counters in Henderson, Laughlin, and Mesquite with more limited hours. Those satellite locations do issue marriage licenses, but they close midday for lunch and they close on legal holidays. If you are arriving on a Friday evening or a holiday, plan on the downtown Bureau.

The Bureau itself is walk-in only for licenses. Expect to see independent chapel promoters outside; they are not county employees. Inside, security and clerks keep the line moving. Onsite there is a self-service kiosk where you can purchase a certified copy of your marriage certificate after your ceremony has been filed, which is useful if you are in town for a few extra days.

Do not go to the Clark County Government Center if you need the license. That building’s customer service counter handles certificate filings and sales during business hours, but it does not issue licenses. Many couples have accidentally gone there and had to backtrack to Clark Avenue.

What to bring, what you’ll pay, and how the names appear

Bring government-issued photo identification for each of you. Acceptable examples include a driver license, state ID, passport, military ID, or similar government photo ID. The Bureau will print your marriage license and, later, your marriage certificate using your names exactly as they appear on the ID you present. If you want your full middle name on the record, your ID must show that full middle name. If you are a United States citizen and have been issued a Social Security Number, you will be asked to provide it.

The marriage license fee in Clark County is $102. You can pay by debit or credit card. Checks and money orders are not accepted for marriage licenses, and some satellite offices do not accept cash at all. The Clerk’s payment processor adds a card fee of 2% + $1.25 to each card transaction, which is useful to know if you plan to make multiple purchases, for example a civil ceremony and later a certified copy.

There is no need to bring a divorce decree unless you are using it to show a legal name that is different from the name on your current ID. For most couples, your current government ID is all that is required. If your situation is unusual, such as using a certified birth certificate to assist with identification, the Clerk may require an English translation with specific wording and a notarized signature from a qualified translator.

If you make a typo on the online application, do not panic. Clerks can fix mistakes at the counter before the license prints. If a mistake is discovered after the ceremony, the County will review correction requests and may charge up to $79.50 to process a correction to your license or certificate. Double check the spelling of your names and your parents’ birth names before you submit.

Age rules are straightforward. Both applicants must be at least 18. The one exception is a 17-year-old who is a resident of Clark County; that person may marry with a written order from a Nevada District Court Judge. There is no provision for younger applicants, and the County cannot give legal advice if you have questions about that court process.

Courthouse ceremony or chapel — what’s the difference?

Getting the license and having the ceremony are two different steps. The County Clerk does not perform ceremonies at the Marriage License Bureau. If you want a County-run civil ceremony, those are held at the Office of Civil Marriages in downtown Las Vegas, a short walk from the Bureau at 330 S. 3rd Street, Suite 660.

The fee for a County civil ceremony is $77.75 total, which is a $75.00 ceremony fee plus a $2.75 credit-card processing fee. Payment is by credit or debit card only. A single witness is required, and the Office of Civil Marriages allows up to 8 guests in addition to the witness. These ceremonies are by appointment; if you do not see availability for your date, that means all appointments are currently reserved.

Commercial chapels, hotels, and outdoor venues are the other route. They set their own packages and schedules, and many include transportation to the Marriage License Bureau as part of a wedding package. Some can also provide a witness if you do not have one. If you engage with promoters outside the Bureau, remember the County’s note that those solicitors work for chapels, not for the Clerk’s Office. Ask for a written bill that lists all fees and any recommended tips before you say yes to anything.

Whichever path you choose, your officiant has 10 calendar days after the ceremony to file the completed marriage certificate with the County Clerk. Once it is filed, you can purchase your proof of marriage as a certified copy in person or online. A certified copy costs $20 per copy. If you place a mail order for documents, the Clerk asks that you allow time for processing and mailing before inquiring about a replacement; three weeks is the typical threshold before they will research a missing domestic order.

Which Clark County office fits our itinerary?

All of the offices below are part of the Clark County Clerk’s system. Only the locations listed with “Marriage License Issuance” can give you the license. Hours and services are as currently published by the Clerk, and all locations close on legal holidays unless otherwise noted.

If you simply need the license with maximum flexibility, the downtown Bureau is the surest play. If you are staying in Henderson or Mesquite midweek and your travel is daytime-only, the satellites can be convenient, but they do not keep evening hours and they do not handle cash. Build those limitations into your schedule.

Key things to know before you go

• Bring the right ID. The County will print your license using your names exactly as shown on your government photo ID. If you want a full middle name on the record, the ID you present must show it in full.
• Budget for fixed fees. The license is $102. A County-run civil ceremony is $77.75 by card. Certified copies are $20 each. For card payments, the Clerk’s processor adds 2% + $1.25 per transaction.
• There is no waiting period. You can pick up the license and have your ceremony the same day. Your license stays valid for one year once issued.
• One witness is required at the ceremony. The Office of Civil Marriages requires you to bring a witness and allows up to 8 additional guests. Many chapels can provide a witness if you arrange it with them in advance.
• Peak dates fill quickly. The downtown Bureau never requires an appointment for licenses, but civil ceremony appointments do book out. If your heart is set on a County civil ceremony time, secure it early.
• Proof of marriage takes a step after the ceremony. Your officiant has 10 days to file the certificate. Once filed, you can buy a certified copy online or in person. If you mail-order a document and it has not arrived, the Clerk asks that you allow about 3 weeks before requesting a replacement.
• International couples: if your government requires an apostille, you will obtain it from the Nevada Secretary of State after you purchase a certified copy from the Clerk.
• Minors and exceptions are limited. A 17-year-old who is a resident of Clark County may marry with a Nevada District Court Judge’s written order. Special single-party issuance exists only for specific cases like a hospitalized or incarcerated applicant, using forms published by the Clerk.
• Beware of street solicitors. The people handing out chapel flyers outside the Bureau do not work for the County. If you engage a chapel from a solicitor, ask for a printed bill that lists all fees and any recommended tips before you agree.

Reader Q&A

Can we get a license and get married the same day in Las Vegas?

Yes. Nevada has no waiting period and no blood test, and the Marriage License Bureau is open from 8 a.m. to midnight every day. Your license is valid for one year, and your ceremony must take place in Nevada with a Nevada-licensed officiant. Many chapels build same-day weddings around those hours, and the County also offers civil ceremonies by appointment at the Office of Civil Marriages.

What if we do not have a witness?

One witness other than the officiant is required for every ceremony in Nevada. The Office of Civil Marriages requires you to bring a witness and permits up to 8 additional guests. Many commercial chapels can furnish a witness if you arrange it with them in advance as part of your package.

Do we need to bring divorce papers or a blood test?

No blood test is required. You do not need to provide a divorce decree unless you are using that decree to show a legal name that differs from the name on your current government-issued ID. The Clerk will print your license and certificate exactly as your identification shows, so check your spelling when you apply.

How do we get proof of marriage for a name change after the ceremony?

After your officiant files your certificate with the Clerk, you can purchase a certified copy in person or online for $20 per copy. If you order by mail, allow time for processing and delivery before requesting a replacement, with three weeks as the usual threshold. If your home country requires an apostille, you will first buy the certified copy, then obtain the apostille from the Nevada Secretary of State.

If your ceremony is on a tight timeline or falls on a holiday, plan on the downtown Bureau for your license, then choose either a chapel or the County’s civil office based on whether you want an appointment time or wider flexibility. Keep the fee totals and the simple checklist above handy, and you will spend more time celebrating than waiting in line.

Published: September 23, 2026 · Reviewed by the Hey Las Vegas editorial team