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.