Officiating a wedding in Nevada
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: washoecounty.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
Nevada asks ministers, other religious officials and notaries public to obtain a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages from a county clerk before officiating, and county clerks state that performing before you hold it is unlawful. Ordination alone confers nothing there: the clerk’s certificate is the operative credential, and the clerk decides what evidence of good standing satisfies it. Applications are notarized, some applicant types need a background check, and county clerks describe two to three weeks of processing, so lead time is the thing to plan around. The couple gets the license from a Nevada county clerk, and it expires one year after issuance.
Who returns the license, and by when
The person who solemnized delivers the original certificate of marriage to the county clerk or recorder within 10 days after the marriage. Confirm the window and the delivery address with that office.
Suggested return window: about 10 days after the ceremony. Confirm the current deadline with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to register to officiate in Nevada?
Yes. Apply to the county clerk in the county where the marriage is to be performed for a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages. County clerks state that performing marriages before you obtain it is unlawful.
How long does a Nevada certificate of permission take?
County clerks describe two to three weeks of processing, with a notarized application and, for some applicant types, a background check. A Nevada date should be booked around that lead time.
When is a Nevada marriage certificate due back?
Within 10 days after the marriage, delivered to the county clerk or recorder.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:washoecounty.gov.