Tahoe Brides - Lake Tahoe Weddings - Nevada/California Marriage License Information

California Marriage Licenses  /  Nevada Marriage License

Nevada: (return to top of page)

North Tahoe, Nevada

Incline Village Office (775) 832-4166

865 Tahoe Blvd., Ste. 102
8am-5pm, Tues - Sat
Closed for lunch 12pm-1pm

Marriage License and General Information
To obtain your marriage license in some Nevada counties you will both (bride and groom) need one of the following pieces of identification showing your date of birth: Valid Driver’s License, Certified Birth Certificate, Valid Passport (Reno and Incline Village, North Tahoe, only - no identification necessary). No blood test or waiting period is required. You will not be asked to produce divorce papers (if applicable). Cash payment is required.

Witnesses: Besides the signature of the wedding officiant, this license only needs one witness (has place for two to sign) and the witness need only be old enough to know that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony (no age requirement), AND be able to sign their name on the official marriage license.  This is great because it allows the children (when applicable) to sign as witnesses to their parent's wedding.

For more information contact:
Washoe County - Incline Village County Clerk Office, North Tahoe
In Washoe County (Reno and Incline Village, North Tahoe) you no longer need identification to purchase your marriage license.  Only one person (one, meaning one of the couple getting married) needs to be present to purchase the license. If either the bride or groom picks up the license they would need to answer the questions for the other.  It helps if their finance is ready for a cell phone call to give that information when requested. This may not be true for other Nevada counties, since each county is allowed to make their own identification requirement rules.  Current fee, in Reno or Incline Village, is $55.00.

865 Tahoe Blvd., Ste. 102
8am-5pm, Tues - Sat
Closed for lunch 12pm-1pm
Download PDF file of questions to purchase Marriage License

Reno, Nevada

775 328-3274

Washoe County - Reno County Clerk Office
Corner of So. Virginia and Court St.
Open 7 days a week, 8am - 12 midnight                                                       
Download PDF file of questions to purchase Marriage License
 

Carson City, Nevada

Carson City County Clerk
775 887-2084
111 North Curry
Call for hours - License is $65.00 (that is $55.00, for the license and an extra $10.00, which means you will automatically be sent a Certified Copy of your marriage certificate, after it has been recorded)

South Tahoe, Nevada

Douglas County Clerk - Stateline Nevada, South Lake Tahoe
775 586-7290
County Administration Building/Sheriff's Office
175 Hwy. 50, Stateline, NV
9am-9pm, Mon - Sat
9am-5pm Sundays and holidays - License is $65.00 (that is $55.00, for the license and an extra $10.00, which means you will automatically be sent a Certified Copy of your marriage certificate, after it has been recorded)

Minden, Nevada

Douglas County Clerk - Minden
775 782-9014
The Minden Inn
1594 Esmerelda, Minden, NV
9am-5pm Mon-Fri - License is $65.00 (that is $55.00, for the license and an extra $10.00, which means you will automatically be sent a Certified Copy of your marriage certificate, after it has been recorded)

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California: (return to top of page)

California's File on Marriage Licenses Downloadable PDF (not necessary to have these eight pages of information to purchase a Marriage License... many would think this is an overkill of legal information for attorneys and is mostly common sense)

California Has Two Marriage Licenses                                                       (no blood test, or waiting period required for either)

1. Standard Marriage License; needs to be purchased from County Clerk and can be used in any county in the State of California.  This is the traditional State license that all States issue.  Besides the signature of the wedding officiant, this license only needs one witness (has place for two to sign) and the witness need only be old enough to know that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony, AND be able to sign their name on the official marriage license.

2. The California Confidential Marriage Contract, purchased in courthouses, California chapels and through some ministers.  It must be used (ceremony takes place) in the county in which it was purchased.  The bride and groom must be living together as husband and wife at the time they apply for the marriage license, and must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to those facts. The marriage license is a confidential record and is only registered at the County Clerk's Office in the county where it was purchased.  Because it is a "Confidential Marriage Contract", Only the bride or groom may purchase future "copies" of the marriage license, which sounds fine in the beginning, but for the bride and groom to get a future copy "they must present valid picture identification together with the required fee to the County Clerk where the license was originally purchased and file" (unlike the standard State Marriage License that a couple can apply for a future copy with a simple letter and a money order for the state to mail them a certified copy).  Therefore, purchasing a future copy of a California Confidential Marriage Contract could become a bit more difficult, if, in the future, you were to lose your original document.  Persons other than the bride or groom requesting copies of a confidential marriage license may only do so by presenting a court order to the County Clerk in the county where the license is registered (but, truth be told, how many people would be interested in requesting a copy of your marriage license, besides yourselves?).  Copies of confidential marriages are not available from the state office.  Besides the signature of the wedding officiant, this contract/license requires no other witness/signature.

Explanation of the two license policy, is their a difference?

No blood test required for either license/contract - No waiting period - Must be 18 years of age or older. Must present valid Official Photo Identification (drivers license, state ID, military ID, passport or other official identification) - License is good for 90 days from purchase.  Some counties may require a copy of the final judgment if your previous marriage ended by dissolution or nullity.  No divorce papers necessary if divorce has been final for over 6 months.

Regular license may be purchased in any county in California and marriage may occur in any county in California. Costs differ in each county.

Confidential license must be purchased in the county where the marriage occurs. Costs differ in each county. Can be issued by many chapels.

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