Nevada Marriage Records

Nevada began maintaining statewide records of marriages consummated in the state in January 1968. Before this, marriage records were kept by individual counties. Recent data shows that Nevada has the highest marriage rate in the United States at 24.6 marriages per 1,000 residents. Its rate stands at nearly 75% above the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Nevada marriage records refer to all the documents substantiating that two people were joined together in marriage. In Nevada, these documents include:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is a legal permit obtained before marriage, authorizing couples to wed within Nevada. Marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office and contain information about the individuals to be married, including applicant names, ages, addresses, witness information, and license numbers.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is the official record of marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the marriage license to the county recorder's office within 10 days. The county recorder records and files the license, creating the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates contain the couple's names, parents' information, date and place of marriage, officiant's information, certificate number, and signature and seal of the issuing officer.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Nevada?

You can look up marriage records in Nevada from the following sources:

• The Nevada Office of Vital Records provides verification of marriages existence to state-wide marriages recorded between 1968 and September 2005.
• The county recorder's office provides access to marriage licenses and certified copies of marriage certificates.

The Nevada Office of Vital Records provides access to verification of marriage existence for marriages consummated between 1968 and September 2005. It does not offer certified copies of marriage records. If you are unsure about the county where the marriage was held or the exact marriage date, you may conduct a verification search. Complete and mail the Request for Marriage or Divorce Search of Records form to the State Office of Vital Records. The State will email you the results, which you will use to apply for the marriage certificate.

In Nevada, all marriage licenses and certificates are issued and maintained by the county recorder's office in the county where the application was filed. To order the document, download the Marriage Certificate Request form on the county recorder's office website or at their office. Some counties provide online request forms for marriage certificates. Depending on the county, you may submit the request by mail, in person, or by email.

Irrespective of the county of purchase of the marriage certificate, all requests for certified copies of marriage records may include the following:

• Full names of both parties
• The exact date and place of marriage
• Certificate number
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Nevada?

All marriage records, including marriage licenses and certificates, are public records in Nevada. Therefore, they are open to the public for viewing, inspection, and copying. However, while the public may access marriage records in Nevada, not all information on the document is open to the public. The county recorder's office redacts personal identifiers on marriage records to prevent unwarranted invasion of privacy and fraudulent use of personal information.

How Much Do Nevada Marriage Records Cost?

It costs $10 to order a verified copy of a marriage certificate from the State Vital Records office. However, the cost of obtaining a certified copy of a marriage certificate differs by county. Expect to pay between $15-$20 per copy. Additional copies typically incur the same fee. If you use a third-party service, expect an additional $9-$13 processing fee.

Generally, it takes around 10-15 business days for most counties to process mail requests for certified copies of marriage records. If you need the document faster, you may order the record in person. In-person requests are usually processed on the same day. Online requests may take up to 10 business days to obtain the document, with expedited shipping options delivering the document in 2-5 business days.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Nevada?

Nevada does not issue confidential marriage licenses, which would make the marriage certificate confidential and restricted from everyone except the couple. All marriage licenses and certificates are treated as public records, accessible to any member of the public. Similarly, there are no statutes in Nevada permitting couples to seal their marriage records.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Nevada Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of your Nevada marriage record is essential for various purposes ranging from immigration and genealogy to securing tax, insurance, and inheritance benefits, as well as facilitating name change, obtaining Social Security cards, and terminating a marriage.

To verify your marriage records in Nevada, you may contact the Nevada Office of Vital Records for marriages consummated between 1968 and September 2005. Similarly, you may also contact the county recorder's office to verify the legitimacy of a marriage certificate.

Generally, authenticated marriage certificates in Nevada contain security features to prevent duplicity. Therefore, the document includes an official signature of the issuing county recorder's office, certificate number, recorder's stamp, and a raised, embossed seal certifying the document's authenticity. In addition, a certified marriage certificate is usually printed on a security paper with integrated security features to deter forgery.

Can I Find Nevada Marriage Records Online for Free?

While obtaining certified copies of Nevada marriage certificates requires payment of fees through official channels, several non-governmental platforms offer free access to historical and modern marriage records.

FamilySearch.org provides free access to digitized historical records, including Nevada marriages. You may access indexes of names, dates, and locations of marriages through a searchable database. Also, the platform provides images of original marriage licenses and certificates from 1862-1900.

Ancestry.com, a subscription-based service, offers a wide collection of Nevada marriage records compiled from county recorders' offices from 1931-2014. The platform offers free access to scanned images of marriage certificates and licenses for older records pre-1950 and marriage announcements from historical Nevada newspapers.

PublicRecords.us is a data aggregator that compiles public records from government and third-party sources to provide a robust database of millions of marriage records, including Nevada marriage records. You can access indexes of names, marriage years, and counties for free. Detailed access to the complete marriage record may require a minimal fee.

What Is Required to Get a Nevada Marriage License?

To legally marry in Nevada, couples must meet specific state and county requirements and provide supporting documentation, including:

• Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. If either party is 17 years old,
• Both parties must be present at the county recorder's office. A court order and parental consent are required
• Neither party must be married. Provide a divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
• Both parties may present their Social Security numbers
• Provide a valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

The cost of marriage licenses varies across Nevada counties. Expect to pay around $85-$105 to procure the license. There is no waiting period. Once issued, the couple may get married immediately. Marriage licenses are valid for one year in Nevada. If the couple fails to have their marriage ceremony within the period, the license expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Nevada?

In Nevada, corrections to marriage records are permitted for specific types of errors, including:

• Typographical errors, such as misspelled names, incorrect birth dates, or clerical mistakes
• Incomplete information, including missing middle names, wrong birthplaces, or incorrect parent names
• Clerical errors, such as mistakes made by the officiant or the county recorder's office during data entry, including the wrong ceremony date or a misspelled officiant's name
• Factual inaccuracies. Errors in names, dates, or places that existed on the original marriage licenses
• Omitted details, such as missing witness signatures or incorrect filing dates

Amending Nevada Marriage License

You may amend errors on your marriage license before you get married if you notice inaccuracies. To amend your marriage license, both parties must return to the county recorder's office to correct the document. Complete an Affidavit of Correction form obtainable at the county recorder's office. Clearly state the error on the document and provide the correct information. Notarize the completed form and include a valid government-issued photo ID with the application. Mail or drop off the application package at the county recorder's office. It costs $25 to amend your marriage license in Nevada. However, there are no fees if the errors on the document are clerical errors made by the county recorder's office.

Amending the Nevada Marriage Certificate

You may amend any inaccuracies on your marriage certificate at the county recorder's office. Download the Affidavit for Correction of a Marriage Certificate form from the county recorder's website or visit the office to obtain the form. Complete the affidavit detailing each incorrect entry and its correct version. Sign the form in the presence of a notary public. Include documents supporting the correct information, such as hospital records, driver's licenses, or court orders in cases involving substantial changes.

Mail or drop off the original marriage certificate with the application form, supporting documents, and a valid government-issued photo ID to the county recorder's office. There is a $25 fee to amend your marriage certificate in Nevada. The fees are waived if the error originated from the county recorder's office.