Single Ceremony Marriage Officiant Training
Performing a Single Marriage Ceremony in Clark County, Nevada
Course Introduction
A message from the County Clerk The performance of marriages is a serious responsibility. Getting married changes a couple’s vital records. In addition, it often affects their finances, including disbursement of retirement accounts, distribution of social security benefits and beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, to name just a few. It is the County Clerk’s responsibility to ensure that individuals who solemnize marriages perform this duty responsibly, and process vital documents according to state law.
Lynn Marie Goya, Clark County Clerk
Who should take this course This course is required for a person seeking authorization by the Clark County Clerk in the state of Nevada to perform a single marriage ceremony within Clark County. Clark County consists of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Mesquite, Laughlin (and other towns) and unincorporated Clark County (various areas in town, including the "Strip").
Per Nevada law, the person solemnizing a marriage must be authorized by the Clerk in the county in which the marriage will take place. If you are seeking to perform a single marriage ceremony within Clark County, Nevada, you must apply for and be granted a Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Marriage from our office. If you are unsure if the ceremony will be within Clark County, click here to be taken to an interactive map.
IF ANYONE PERFOMS A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN NEVADA WITHOUT OBTAINING AUTHORIZATION FROM THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY CLERK, THAT PERSON IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY OF UP TO $1,500. OUR OFFICE TAKES THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND DOES ENFORCE THIS PENALTY.
Is authorization from the County Clerk's Office required to perform a marriage ceremony in Nevada?
Yes
No
Eligibility criteria to apply to perform a marriage ceremony in Nevada In order to be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Marriage in the state of Nevada, the applicant must meet the following criteria in order to be considered:
• Possess a U.S. social security number; and • Be a minister or church or religious official in good standing with his or her church or religious organization; or, be an active State of Nevada Notary Public; and • If subject to a court order for the support of a child, be in compliance with the order; and • Has never held a previous Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages (or a Single Marriage) that has been canceled or revoked for a knowing violation of the laws of the state of Nevada or of the United States; and • Has not been convicted of a felony, released from confinement or completed parole or probation, whichever occurred later, within 10 years before the date of application for a Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Marriage; and • Have completed this course in its entirety with 100% mastery of the content.
Which criteria helps determine who is eligible to apply? (select all correct answers)
A minister or church or religious official from any U.S. state or territory possessing a U.S. social security number
A citizen from Canada possessing a Canadian social insurance number (SIN)
An active State of Nevada Notary Public possessing a U.S. social security number An active State of California Notary Public possessing a U.S. social security number
A person convicted of a felony three years ago is currently serving probation
A person subject to a court order for the support of a child and who is in compliance with the order
A person who has completed this course in its entirety with 100% mastery of the content
Are you eligible to apply for authorization to perform a single marriage ceremony in Clark County?
Yes
No
Course topics 1. What constitutes a legal marriage 2. Legal benefits of marriage 3. Where are marriages in Nevada recognized 4. Same-gender marriage 5. The couple’s Marriage License 6. Hours of the Marriage License Bureau 7. Performance of the marriage ceremony 8. Preparing and completing the marriage documents 9. Filing the Marriage Certificate 10. How to apply for authorization to perform a single marriage ceremony
Section 1: What constitutes a legal marriage
Required marriage documents
There are three (3) documents issued when a couple applies for a license to get married: Marriage License
• The Officiant must make sure it is VALID. • A Marriage License in Nevada is valid for one (1) year from the date it is issued, up to and including the expiration date.
Marriage Certificate
• After the ceremony, the Officiant will complete the Marriage Certificate and file it with the Clerk's Office.
Marriage Certificate Keepsake
• After the ceremony, the Officiant will complete the Marriage Certificate Keepsake in the same fashion as the Marriage Certificate. This is a souvenir document that is provided to the couple. It is NOT legal proof of marriage.
Select the three (3) marriage documents provided to couples?
Marriage License
Marriage Certificate Marriage Ceremony Coupon
Marriage Certificate Keepsake
Public agreement to marry
Marriage is a legally sanctioned contract between two people. Marriage, so far as its validity in law is concerned, is a civil contract, to which the consent of the parties capable in law of contracting is essential. Consent alone will not constitute marriage; it must be followed by solemnization as authorized. (NRS122.010)
Is marriage considered a legal contract between two people?
Yes
No
Public pronouncement by Officiant • In the solemnization of marriage, no particular form is required except that the parties shall declare, in the presence of the justice, judge, minister or other church or religious official authorized to solemnize a marriage, notary public to whom a certificate of permission to perform marriages has been issued, justice of the peace, commissioner of civil marriages or deputy commissioner of civil marriages, and the attending witness, that they consent to marry each other. • In every case, there shall be at least one (1) witness present in addition to the person performing the ceremony and the couple. The witness must understand that a marriage ceremony is taking place.
How many witnesses are required for the marriage ceremony?
None. So long as the couple consents to marry each other, a witness is not required.
At least one (1) must be present.
Filed Marriage Certificate After the ceremony, the Officiant must file the completed Marriage Certificate with the Clerk's Office. Once the Marriage Certificate is filed, it will be available for purchase by the couple as certified (legal) proof of marriage.
NOTE: If the Marriage Certificate is not filed, the couple will NOT be able to obtain proof of their marriage.
Who is responsible for filing the Marriage Certificate?
The couple getting married
The Officiant
Section 2: Legal benefits of marriage
Legal benefits Marriage is a legal contract between two people that also provides several benefits. Depending on the state or country the couple lives in, they may be entitled to certain governmental and/or other financial benefits. Some of these potential benefits may include:
• Tax benefits, when you file jointly with your spouse • Estate planning benefits, including inheritance rights • Government benefits, including receiving Social Security, Medicare, and disability benefits for your spouse • Employment benefits, such as obtaining health insurance through your spouse's employer and the right to take medical leave to care for a spouse who becomes ill • Decision-making benefits, including the right to make medical decisions if your spouse is incapacitated • Financial support, including equitable property division in a divorce • Consumer benefits, such as family rates for health, homeowners', auto, and other types of insurance
Are there potential legal benefits to married couples?
Yes
No Section 3: Where are marriages in Nevada recognized
Recognition of marriage
Marriages are recognized across state and country lines, and internationally. The Hague Convention that harmonizes different marriage laws, the Convention on the Celebration and Recognition of the Validity of Marriages, was concluded at The Hague on March 14, 1978, and entered into force on May 1, 1991. Article 9 of the Convention holds that, “A marriage validly entered into under the law of the State of celebration or which subsequently becomes valid under that law shall be considered as such in all Contracting States, subject to the provisions of this Chapter.”
Refer to the following website for international matrimonial law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_matrimonial_law#cite_note-hcch.e-vision.nl-2
Is a marriage in Nevada considered legal elsewhere in the world?
Yes
No
Section 4: Same-gender marriages Same-gender marriage
Same-gender marriages are legal in Nevada and recognized internationally by some countries. Couples need to be familiar with the laws of their state and/or country.
Some states and countries recognize non-binary (unspecified) as a third gender option. Regardless of the meaning or use around this third option, Clark County will be providing the ability for a marriage license applicant to select Male, Female or Unspecified.
Are same-gender marriages recognized everywhere?
Yes
No
Section 5: The couple’s Marriage License
About the Marriage License An Officiant cannot perform a marriage ceremony by law unless the couple provides the necessary marriage documents. If the Officiant is coordinating the ceremony with the couple ahead of time, it would be beneficial to recommend to the couple that they complete the Marriage License application online before they come into the Marriage License Bureau to obtain their marriage documents.
Completing the application online will allow the couple more time to accurately complete all information needed to make the issuance of the marriage documents quick and easy.
Couples can go online to MLIC.Vegas to complete the application from home or any mobile device. If the couple does not complete the application prior to coming to the Marriage License Bureau, they will need to complete it in our office. This can be time consuming, especially if we are busy and there is a line.
Does the couple have to present a valid Marriage License at the time of the ceremony?
Yes
No
Section 6: Hours of the Marriage License Bureau Locations, Days and Times
• Marriage License Bureau: Open 7 days a week, including all holidays, from 8 a.m. to midnight. Located at 201 E Clark Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101. • Henderson Office: Open on Thursday ONLY, excluding all legal holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch). Located at 240 S Water Street, Henderson, NV 89015. • Laughlin Office: Open Monday, Friday and Saturday, excluding all legal holidays, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. for lunch). Located at 101 Civic Way Laughlin, NV 89029.
Where can a Marriage License be obtained on a legal holiday? (select all correct answers)
Marriage License Bureau
Henderson Office
Laughlin Office
Section 7: Performance of the marriage ceremony Ceremony requirements
• Pursuant to Nevada law (NRS 122.110), there is no set format in the performance of a marriage ceremony. However, the law specifies that at least one (1) witness must be present and the Officiant when the couple declares their agreement to marry each other. The requirement to be present means that the witness, the Officiant and the couple must all be in the same room. • Nevada law also requires that the marriage ceremony take place in the state of Nevada. If the Marriage Officiant was issued a Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Marriage as a Notary Public, Nevada law (NRS 240.100) allows a Notary Public to charge $75 for the performance of a marriage ceremony. • An Officiant cannot perform a marriage ceremony in this state unless the couple has provided a valid Marriage License issued by a Nevada County Clerk at the time of the ceremony. • In the case of an Officiant authorized to perform a single marriage ceremony, the ceremony must take place in the same county that issued the Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Ceremony.
Is a witness required to be present in the same room when the ceremony is performed?
Yes
No Section 8: Preparing and completing the marriage documents
Marriage License
Marriage License Example
(As issued in Clark County) 1. Check the expiration date on the top left corner. A Marriage License issued in Nevada is valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance, up to and including the expiration date. It must be VALID at the time of the marriage ceremony. 2. Review with the couple the spelling of their names, dates of birth and other information. 3. BEFORE the ceremony, instruct the couple to return to the Marriage License Bureau to have their documents corrected. There is no fee for this service. 4. AFTER the ceremony has been performed, contact the Marriage License Bureau as soon as possible at (702) 671-0523 (press option 1) for directions on correcting the documents before submitting them to the County Clerk’s Office to be filed. There may be a fee for this service.
5. Keep for your files as it is important for the Marriage Officiant to have a complete record of each marriage ceremony performed, and be sure to also write down the witness name(s) in case the other documents are lost or the witness names are in question.
ML-COPY https://files-storage.easygenerator.com/documents/19cef01b-fb3c-40f0-a209-ecbab0c1a5a2/external- preview
Is the Marriage License given back to the couple after the ceremony?
Yes
No Marriage Certificate
State of Nevada Marriage Certificate Example
(As issued in Clark County) 1. After the ceremony, complete the Marriage Certificate completely and legibly by printing or typing the following information in black ink only: 2. Name of official performing marriage 3. Day, month and year of the marriage 4. Name and address of location where marriage performed (do not abbreviate) 5. Witness name(s) – must be printed and not signed 6. Officiant’s information section: signature (do not use a signature stamp), name and title, address, city, state, zip code and Officiant ID number (the Officiant ID number is printed on the Certificate of Permission to Perform a Single Ceremony)
7. Use caution when completing the document as the County Clerk’s Office may deny the filing of a Marriage Certificate if it contains mistakes, or if there is damage of any kind (e.g., stains or tears). Per Nevada law, no writing or print may extend into the margins. If a new Marriage Certificate is required due to mistakes or damage:
8. BEFORE it is filed, the Marriage Officiant must appear in person with proof that the ceremony was performed, sign the new document and pay a $15 replacement fee.
9. AFTER it has been filed, the Marriage Officiant should contact the Marriage License Bureau for further instructions. A $43 amendment fee will be required.
10. Make a copy to keep with the Marriage License for your files.
11. File the Marriage Certificate within ten (10) calendar days with the County Clerk's Office (note: holidays are included in the 10 days). MC-COPY
https://files-storage.easygenerator.com/documents/eba43698-0b1e-47c6-b5e9-de4fbf9d7cfd/external-
preview
What should the Officiant do if mistakes are made when completing the Marriage Certificate? (select all correct answers)
BEFORE it is filed, the Marriage Officiant must appear in person with proof that the ceremony was performed, sign the new document and pay a $15 replacement fee.
AFTER it has been filed, the Marriage Officiant should contact the Marriage License Bureau for further instructions. A $43 amendment fee will be required.
Do nothing
Marriage Certificate Keepsake State of Nevada Marriage Certificate Keepsake Example
(As issued in Clark County) 1. After the ceremony, complete the document completely and legibly by printing or typing the following information in black ink only: 2. Name of official performing marriage 3. Day, month and year of the marriage 4. Name and address of location where marriage performed (do not abbreviate) 5. Witness name(s) – must be printed and not signed 6. Officiant’s information section: signature, name and title, address, city, state and zip code
7. Present to the couple as a "souvenir" of their wedding and explain that this is NOT an official document and does NOT get filed with the County Clerk’s Office. However, it is an important document for them to retain as it is often used to acknowledge that the ceremony occurred and can help in recreating their Marriage Certificate should it become lost or destroyed.
Keepsake-COPY https://files-storage.easygenerator.com/documents/6ff9b8d7-2a8a-48fe-86a3-fa91e97580b6/external- preview
Is the Keepsake an official document providing proof of marriage?
Yes
No Section 9: Filing the Marriage Certificate
How to file the Marriage Certificate
Completed Marriage Certificates must be delivered to the Clark County Clerk’s Office within ten (10) calendar days of the marriage ceremony – failure to do so is a misdemeanor (NRS 122.230).
We highly recommend delivering Marriage Certificates in person at our office. The filing date for Marriage Certificates that are mailed will be based on the business day they are processed and filed, not the date they are mailed or received – please keep this in mind when adhering to the ten (10) calendar day requirement.
• In person, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, Commission Division, 1st Floor, Las Vegas, NV 89155. (Closed all legal holidays) • Mail to:
Clark County Clerk’s Office,
Box 551604,
Las Vegas, NV 89155-1604.
How can a Marriage Officiant file the Marriage Certificate (select all correct answers)
In person at the Clerk's Office Electronically uploaded to the Clerk's website
Faxed to the Clerk's Office
Mailed to the Clerk's Office
Section 10: How to apply for authorization to perform a single marriage ceremony
Application process If you've made it this far into the training, then you are most likely ready to apply for authorization to conduct a single marriage ceremony.
Application packets include all of the information that you will need to complete the application for submission to our office. Please remember, the $25 application fee is non-refundable. Do not submit your application unless you can provide all of the necessary information and documents that are required.
Per Nevada law, a person seeking to perform a single marriage ceremony may only perform up to five (5) single marriage ceremonies in a calendar year. If you plan on performing more than five (5) marriage ceremonies in a calendar year and reside in Clark County, then you should be applying for status as a long- term Marriage Officiant.
PLEASE NOTE: Your application MUST be received no less than thirty (30) days prior to the planned date of the marriage ceremony or it will be denied.
Is my $25 application fee refundable?
Yes
No
How many days prior to the planned date of the marriage ceremony must the application be received? 10
20
30
60
Saving your course for future reference
This course contains important information that you should retain for future reference as you will not be able to access it again once submitted (without retaking it again)!
STEP #1: At the top of your screen is a red Adobe icon that allows you to download the complete course as an Adobe PDF file. Click the icon to proceed.
STEP #2: At the bottom of your screen, your browser should provide you with the ability to open or save the file. Select the option that you prefer.
Submitting your course results
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR RESULTS!
To submit your course results, follow these two (2) steps:
STEP #1: Now that you are at the end of the course and have obtained your application packet, you MUST submit your results with 100% mastery in order for your course to show in our records as complete. If you do not submit your results, this will delay processing of your application. The Submit results button will be located in the upper right corner of the screen once you click the Home button below.
STEP #2: Once submitted, you will be presented with a final screen that will provide you the ability to continue the course if there is anything you want to review again before you submit your results. If you have 100% mastery and are ready to submit, click the Submit results and logout button.
Application packets
Since this training course is required, you must have completed all sections and mastered the questions with 100% accuracy. Once you apply, we will review your course to ensure it has been completed and mastered. If not, we will notify you and give you 30 days to complete it before we deny your application and close your file.
The two types of single ceremony application packets are below, please select the one that is applicable to you:
• Minister or Religious Official Application Packet • State of Nevada Notary Public Application Packet
PLEASE NOTE: Once you click the link to open the applicable packet, save or download the fillable PDF to your computer to complete on your own time. If you are unable to save the PDF to your computer, print it. It is important that you carefully read the instructions before starting to complete your application. Confirmation of abiding by the roles, responsibilities and legal duties
TRUE FALSE
I confirm that I understand and will abide by the Marriage Officiant roles, responsibilities and legal responsibilities for Nevada.