Nevada Revised Statutes Section 122.040 - Domestic Relations

Marriage license: Requirements; issuance by county clerk; public records; expiration.

1. Before persons may be joined in marriage, a license must be obtained for that purpose from the county clerk of any county in the State. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the license must be issued at the county seat of that county. The board of county commissioners:

(a) In a county whose population is 400,000 or more may, at the request of the county clerk, designate two branch offices of the county clerk at which marriage licenses may be issued, if the designated branch offices are located outside of the county seat.

(b) In a county whose population is less than 400,000 may, at the request of the county clerk, designate one branch office of the county clerk at which marriage licenses may be issued, if the designated branch office is established in a county office building which is located outside of the county seat.

2. Before issuing a marriage license, the county clerk may require evidence that the applicant for the license is of age. The county clerk shall accept a statement under oath by the applicant and the applicant’s parent, if available, that the applicant is of age.

3. The county clerk issuing the license shall require the applicant to answer under oath each of the questions contained in the form of license, and, if the applicant cannot answer positively any questions with reference to the other person named in the license, the clerk shall require both persons named in the license to appear before him and to answer, under oath, the questions contained in the form of license. The county clerk shall require the applicant to include his social security number and the social security number of the other person named in the license on the affidavit of application for the marriage license. If either person does not have a social security number, the person responding to the question must state that fact. The county clerk shall not require any evidence to verify a social security number. If any of the information required is unknown to the person responding to the question, he must state that the answer is unknown.

4. If any of the persons intending to marry are under age and have not been previously married, and if the authorization of a district court is not required, the clerk shall issue the license if the consent of the parent or guardian is:

(a) Personally given before the clerk;

(b) Certified under the hand of the parent or guardian, attested by two witnesses, one of whom must appear before the clerk and make oath that he saw the parent or guardian subscribe his name to the annexed certificate, or heard him or her acknowledge it; or

(c) In writing, subscribed to and acknowledged before a person authorized by law to administer oaths. A facsimile of the acknowledged writing must be accepted if the original is not available.

5. If the authorization of a district court is required, the county clerk shall issue the license if that authorization is given to him in writing.

6. All records pertaining to marriage licenses are public records and open to inspection pursuant to the provisions of NRS 239.010.

7. A marriage license issued on or after July 1, 1987, expires 1 year after its date of issuance.

Last modified: February 25, 2006