Before officiating weddings in Nevada you will first need to get ordained online to become a minister.
There are plenty of websites where you can get ordained online. Most are free though some charge pricey fees. We will be openly biased in recommending that you get ordained with American Marriage Ministries.
Why American Marriage Ministries? Well, AMM’s ordination is free. They are set up specifically to help people officiate weddings. And they are the only IRS Certified 501c3 Charitable Organization that offers online ordinations.
Once you are an ordained minister, your next step is to register as a wedding officiant in the county where the couple intends to get married.
Nevada Minister Registration Office – County Clerk
Minister registration is required everywhere in Nevada. Minister registration is administered at the county level through the County Clerk’s Office.
Successful registration with a county office only gives you permission to officiate weddings in that county. If you ever decide to officiate another wedding in a different county, you will have to register in that county.
Minister registration in Nevada is more rigorous than in any other State in the country. This is likely due to the fact that Las Vegas is the #2 wedding capital in the world.
Weddings are a big business in Nevada. As such, the bureaucracy and minister licensing requirements are commensurate to this demand.
17 ‘Counties’ in Nevada
There are 16 Counties and one independent city in Nevada. Each has their own applications and distinct requirements for minister registration. Below is a list of all the county/city offices that oversee minister registration:
- Carson City
- Churchill County
- Clark County (Las Vegas)
- Douglas County
- Elko County
- Esmeralda County
- Eureka County
- Humboldt County
- Lander County
- Lincoln County
- Lyon County
- Mineral County
- Nye County
- Pershing County
- Storey County
- Washoe County (Burning Man)
- White Pine County
Permanent vs. Single Ceremony Applications
Another important aspect of applying for authority to officiate weddings in Nevada is that each county has two applications. They are commonly referred to as the “Permanent Status” and “Single Ceremony” applications.
These applications have important differences. The most important is that if you do not live in Nevada you will want to apply with the Single Ceremony Application. If you do live in Nevada then you can apply with either application.
Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriage
All the applications require a document called the “Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriage“. The affidavit asks for the same information regardless of the county, however each county formats the affidavit differently.
Make sure that the affidavit you submit is for that county. The clerk’s can be very particular about these points and submitting the incorrect affidavit can lead to delays and denial of your application.
Important Points About the Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriage
The Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriage must:
- Be Signed by a Church Officer
- Be Notarized
The affidavit is not something you can complete on your own. This document must be provided by your ordaining church. Continues reading for more information on how you can procure this document along with the rest of the required paperwork.
How Do I Successfully Register as a Wedding Officiant in Nevada?
Due to the complexity of the registration process in Nevada we strongly recommend that you register as an AMM Minister. We recommend American Marriage Ministries because:
- American Marriage Ministries is Incorporated in Nevada.
- American Marriage Ministries has the most detailed information on how to register as a wedding officiant in the various counties in Nevada.
- American Marriage Ministries is one of the only online ministries that has a close relationship with the Clark County Clerk in Las Vegas.
- American Marriage Ministries offers a Minister Ordination Package and Signature Wedding Officiant Package specifically for registration Nevada. When ordering your package they ask for the county where you intend to register. Your package will then include:
- Your signed and notarized Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriage.
- Your permanent of single ceremony application that is partially completed.
- Point-by-point instructions on how to complete and submit your application.
- Your ministry credentials and any other documents required for successful registration in all counties.
If you are not ordained with AMM you will have to contact that organization for the required paperwork. If they are able to provide you with the required paperwork, make sure that the “Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriage” is signed by a church officer and notarized.
Officiant Registration in Las Vegas
If you plan on officiating a wedding in Las Vegas you will have to register with the Clark County Clerk’s office. The AMM website provides a page which details how to successfully register as a wedding officiant in Las Vegas.
Submitting Your Minister Application to the County Clerk
Due to the high volume of weddings that take place in Nevada, specifically Las Vegas, it is imperative to submit your application well in advance of the wedding.
For instance, the Clark County Clerk’s office recommends that you submit your application several weeks before the wedding date. This is due to the high volume of applications that they must process.
We recommend that you visit the County Clerk’s website where you will be officiating the wedding. You can contact them to get a better idea of the ideal time for you to submit your application.
Approval of Your Application
Depending on the county, it should take the Clerk’s office anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to approve your application. We recommend that you give yourself plenty of time because if there are any complications you will may have to resubmit the entire application.
Once your application has been reviewed and approved you will receive a receipt or notice from the Clerk’s office. Depending on the application you submitted, you will then have the authority to officiate one or many weddings in that county.
Most of the information presented was source from this page.
Moving on to Officiant Training
Successfully registering as a wedding officiant in Nevada is just one step. While you wait for your application to be approved you should start preparing for the wedding ceremony. Follow the link below for officiant training information.