Lake Tahoe
Marriage
License & Requirements
Lake Tahoe
, NV
MARRIAGE LICENSE
Marriage License & Requirements
Reno and Lake Tahoe are a magical places for your upcoming wedding! With its beautiful sapphire lake and majestic mountains, both the California and Nevada side can offer a number of picturesque locations to provide the perfect backdrop for your special day.
To learn about specific marriage licenses and requirements, please scroll down the page or click on Nevada or California.
Featured Sponsors
Nevada Marriage License and Requirements
To be legally married in the State of Nevada, you must purchase a marriage license and have a marriage ceremony performed. The fee for the license is $60.00. Payment may be made by Cash, Credit/Debit cards (Reno office only), Money Orders or Travelers Checks only.
The marriage license may be obtained up to one year prior to the ceremony. The marriage license must be purchased in person in the Marriage License Bureau in either Reno or Incline Village.
For answers to the most common questions, please visit the Marriage Bureau's Frequently Asked Questions page. For all other questions, please call the Marriage Bureau at either number below:
1001 E. 9th St. – Building A, Reno, NV 89512
Telephone: (775) 784-7287
Fax: (775) 784-7263
Web: www.washoecounty.us
Hours: 8am to 12 Midnight Monday - Sunday
893 Southwood Blvd., Incline Village, NV
Telephone: (775) 784-7287
Fax: (775) 784-7263
Web: www.washoecounty.us
Hours: 8am – 5pm Monday – Friday
California Marriage License and Requirements
To be legally married in the State of California, you must purchase a marriage license and have a marriage ceremony performed. The fee for the license is $60.00 for public marriage and $53 for a confidential marriage.
Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. If you do not get married within 90 days, the license will no longer be valid. You must purchase a new license.
For answers to the most common questions, please visit the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk's Marriage License Issuance page or their Frequently Asked Questions page. For all other questions, please call El Dorado County's Recorder-Clerk.at (530) 621-5495
Additional Information on California Marriage Licenses
You do not need to be a California resident to marry in California.
Only an unmarried male and an unmarried female may marry in California.
Marriage by proxy is NOT allowed in California. Family Code, Section 420(a) requires the bride, groom, marriage officiant and witness if applicable, be physically present together in the same location for the marriage to be performed.
Blood tests are NOT required to obtain a marriage license in California.
Both parties must appear in person and bring valid picture identification to the County Clerk’s Office to apply for a marriage license in California. Valid picture identification is one that contains a photograph, date of birth, and an issue and expiration date, such as a state issued identification card, drivers license, passport, military identification, etc. Some counties may also require a copy of your birth certificate.
If you have been married before, you will need to know the specific date your last marriage ended, and how it ended (Death, Dissolution, Divorce or Nullity). Some counties may require a copy of the final judgment if your previous marriage ended by dissolution or nullity.
Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. If you do not get married within 90 days, the license will no longer be valid. You must purchase a new license.
Many County Clerks in California perform civil marriage ceremonies in their offices. For further information regarding civil marriage ceremonies, please contact the County Clerk’s Office directly to see if they provide this service.
California Family Code, Section 400 states the persons authorized to solemnize marriage ceremonies in California are as follows:
A priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination.
A judge or retired judge, commissioner of civil marriages
or retired
commissioner of civil marriages, commissioner or
retired commissioner,
or assistant commissioner of a court of
record in this state.
A judge or magistrate who has resigned from office.
Any of the following judges or magistrates of the United States.
A justice or retired justice of the United States Supreme Court.
A judge or retired judge of a court of appeals, a district
court, or a court created
by an act of Congress the judges of
which are entitled to hold office during
good behavior.
A judge or retired judge of a bankruptcy court or a tax court.
A United States magistrate or retired magistrate.
A legislator or constitutional officer of this state or a
member of Congress
who represents a district within this state,
while that person holds office.
All fees and hours of issuance for a marriage license may vary by county.
The person solemnizing the marriage must return the original marriage license to the County Clerk or County Recorder as applicable within 10 days of the date of the ceremony. Addresses should be on the county site.
You will NOT receive a copy of your marriage license after you have been married unless you request and pay for a certified copy from the County Clerk or County Recorder as applicable.
ALL information on the marriage license MUST be legible, unambiguous and reproducible. DO NOT change any information on the license, cross out information, use white out, etc., as that will require the payment for and issuance of a dupliNVte marriage license. Contact the County Clerk’s Office if you have questions about completing the marriage license and/or incorrect information contained on the marriage license.
Back To Top >>
