A Look at the Las Vegas Marriage License

by Shannon Kietzman, writer for Your Wedding Place.com

Las Vegas is the most popular destination wedding location in the United States. In fact, over 100,000 couples get married there every year. Although Las Vegas is known for providing quickie weddings for couples on the fly, you can’t simply fly to Las Vegas, walk into a Las Vegas wedding chapel, and get married. First, you are going to need to obtain your marriage license.

What is a Las Vegas Marriage License?

Although you cannot just walk into a Las Vegas chapel and get married, the entire process of getting married in Vegas can be completed rather quickly. In fact, obtaining a Las Vegas marriage license will only take you about ½ hour.

Unlike most states, which require a waiting period after filing for a marriage license before you can get married, Las Vegas has no waiting period. After you do get the marriage license, you have a year to get married before it becomes invalid.

In addition to there being no waiting period for a Las Vegas marriage license, it does not require a blood test either. In fact, the only thing you will need to bring with you is a valid driver’s license, a birth certificate, a military identification card, a resident alien card, or a passport – and $55.00 cash. Keep in mind that you cannot purchase your Las Vegas marriage license with a personal check or a credit card.

Don’t expect to get married in Las Vegas if you are not older than 18, either. If you are 17 or 18, you can only get married in Las Vegas if you are accompanied by a parent or have an official document signed by each of your parents granting you permission to get married.

If you don’t obtain your marriage license first, don’t bother to show up at a Las Vegas chapel. It is illegal to get married without a marriage license in hand. Furthermore, it is illegal to obtain a marriage license if you are already married, so a Las Vegas wedding is not the place to go to renew your vows. If you are divorced, you need to know the date and year of the finalization of the divorce. It is not, however, necessary to bring the decree with you.

Getting Your Las Vegas Marriage License

To obtain your Las Vegas marriage license, you will need to visit the Las Vegas Marriage Bureau. You can visit them online at http://www.co.clark.nv.us/clerk/marriage_information.htm to obtain the latest marriage information.

The Bureau itself is located at 200 South Third Street on the third floor and is open from Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to midnight and is open from 8:00 Friday morning to midnight on Sunday. They are also open 24 hours on holidays.

To expedite the marriage license application process, you can download one from http://www.co.clerk.nv.us/clerk/Marriage_License_Applications_online.htm

A Las Vegas wedding is sure to be a memorable one. With so many Las Vegas chapels to choose from, you will certainly be able to find one to meet your taste and your style.

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