Lake Tahoe is, for obvious reasons, a very popular location to have your wedding or elopement. Of course, I’m totally biased because I eloped in Lake Tahoe! And because it’s such a desirable location for nuptials, many people come from all over the world to get hitched here.
Planning your wedding or elopement can already be a daunting task. Add in trying to plan it in a location you’re not too familiar with, and that adds a whole other element of stress to the equation. Figuring out how and where to obtain your marriage license is probably at the top of your list. But fear not, dear almost-wedded reader, I’m here to help. Here is a step-by-step guide about how to get your marriage license in Lake Tahoe.
Before starting the marriage license process, verify that your minister or officiant is authorized to perform wedding ceremonies in the state you will be getting married.
Obtain Your Marriage License in the State Where Your Ceremony Site Is Located.
Because Lake Tahoe straddles both Nevada and California, you’ll need to take into account which state your ceremony will be held. That is the state you’ll need to obtain your marriage license from.
In both states, marriage licenses are honored in every county of that state. In other words, it doesn’t matter which county you obtain your marriage license from, so long as it is within the state your ceremony site is located.
Nevada Marriage License Information
The cost of a marriage license for the state of Nevada is $85. That fee does not include a certified copy of the marriage certificate which is available for an additional $15.00.
The most convenient location to obtain a marriage license for a wedding in Lake Tahoe(particularly if you’re flying in from out-of-state), is Washoe County. Washoe County has two offices:
Washoe County Clerk’s Main Office in Reno: 1001 E. 9th Street, Building A, Reno, NV 89512 Phone: 775-784-7287 Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm 365 days a year (Holidays - 8am-4pm, by appointment) Washoe County Clerk’s Satellite Office in Incline Village: Incline Village General Improvement District, 893 Southwood Blvd. Incline Village, NV Appointments: +1 (775) 832-1100 General Information: +1 (775) 784-7287 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Closed All Holidays Note that the Incline Village Satellite location is by appointment only. Other Nevada counties near Lake Tahoe where you may obtain a marriage license include: Douglas County Administrative Building 175 Highway 50 (second floor), Stateline, NV Phone: 775-586-7270. Hours: Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed Weekends and Holidays Douglas County Administration 1616 8th Street (second floor), Minden, NV Phone: 775-782-9014 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM) Closed Weekends and Holidays Carson City Courthouse 885 East Musser Street, Suite 1025, Carson City, NV Phone: 775-887-2084
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What Information You’ll Need to Obtain a Marriage License in Nevada
Since Nevada is home to the wedding capital of the world, we make it very easy to obtain a marriage license. There are only a few bits of information you need to provide when applying for a marriage license in Nevada:
- A government-issued photo ID that contains your legal name and date of birth. (This includes a driver’s license, passport, or military ID.)
- A place of residence. (city or state, or if traveling internationally, the name of the country you’re from.)
- Your social security number. (You will not be required to provide your actual social security card.)
- Number of prior marriages. (You’ll also need to provide how, when, and where each prior marriage ended.)
- Parental Information. (Including their names and birthplaces.)
- A mailing address for the couple.
A Few Other Facts to Know:
- Your license is valid for 1 year after the date of issuance. (You have 1 year to get married after you’ve applied for your marriage license)
- There is no waiting period in Nevada.
- There is no blood test required.
- Both individuals must be present at the time your license is issued.
- A witness, other than the officiant, is required to be present for a wedding in Nevada. If you have no guests, your photographer (hi!) can be your witness.
- Marriage licenses in Nevada are public record. There is no way to make them private or confidential.
California Marriage License Information
The cost of a marriage license in California depends on the type of marriage license. The state of California has two marriage license types:
- Regular (public) Marriage License – $80
- Confidential Marriage License – $85
The most convenient location to obtain a marriage license for a wedding in Lake Tahoe if you’re getting married on the California side of the lake is:
South Lake Tahoe: El Dorado Center 3368 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Room 108, South Lake Tahoe El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk 360 Fair Lane Placerville, CA 95667 Phone: 530-621-5490 Hours: Marriage Licenses are issued between the hours of 8:00am -12:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm By Appointment Only North Lake Tahoe: Placer County’s Satellite Office 5225 N. Lake Blvd. Carnelian Bay, CA Hours: Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 11:00am Closed Holidays By Appointment Only Phone: +1 (530) 886-5610 -
Information You’ll Need to Obtain a Marriage License in California
- A government-issued photo ID that contains your legal name and date of birth. (This includes a driver’s license, passport, or military ID.)
- If either party has been married previously, a certified copy of the final dissolution papers is required if the dissolution happened within 90 days. Otherwise, the date of dissolution is all that is needed.
- Parental Information. (Including their names and birthplaces.)
- A mailing address for the couple.
A Few Other Facts to Know:
- Your license is valid for 90 days after the date of issuance. (You have 90 days to get married after you’ve applied for your marriage license)
- A witness, other than the officiant, is required to be present for a wedding in California. If you have no guests, your photographer (hi!) can be your witness.
- Both individuals must be present at the time your license is issued.
After The Wedding
This is your officiant’s responsibility. Within 10 days of your ceremony date, your officiant will deliver your marriage license to the County Clerk’s Office. That is when your certificate is recorded, and a certified copy is then prepared. That’s when a certified copy will be mailed to you. (Make sure you’ve paid the $15.00 certified copy fee in addition to the $85.00 license fee) It generally takes about 2 weeks for the certified copy of your marriage license to arrive in the mail.
For International Couples
For couples traveling to Lake Tahoe from abroad, the requirements for obtaining a marriage license in Nevada are much the same as domestic couples. The only additional step you may need to complete is obtaining an Apostille if your local government requires it. An Apostille is an Authorization of Signature that some countries require with proof-of-marriage. You can obtain an Apostille from the Nevada Secretary of State’s website, or from the California Secretary of State’s website. You can discuss an Apostille with your minister or wedding officiant.
And lastly, some countries do not recognize a marriage in the United States as legal, so you’ll want to check with your local government before seeking to obtain a marriage license in Lake Tahoe, as some countries do have restrictions. If your heart is still set on a Lake Tahoe wedding, but you don’t qualify for a legal marriage, consider a non-legal commitment or vow renewal ceremony instead.
Be sure to check with the County Clerk’s Office of the county you’re obtaining your marriage license from for the most up-to-date information.
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