How Do You Get a Certified Copy of a Las Vegas Marriage Certificate From Out of State?

You can get a certified copy of your Las Vegas marriage certificate without going back to Nevada. Once your marriage is recorded by Clark County, you can order copies from the Clark County Recorder online or by mail, or ask a document service to order and ship them for you.

This guide is for couples who have already left Las Vegas. It covers how to order, what to have ready, how many copies to get, and what to do if a certificate is lost.

First: has your marriage been recorded?

You cannot order a certified copy until the county has recorded your marriage. After the ceremony, your officiant has up to 10 days to return the signed certificate, and the county then records it.

If you married recently, check the timing in how long it takes to get your Las Vegas marriage certificate before you order.

Order a Nevada marriage certificate online

The Clark County Recorder handles certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages in Las Vegas. Ordering online is usually the fastest way from out of state.

1. Go to the Clark County Recorder’s website and find marriage certificate copies
2. Search for your record using both names and the date of your marriage
3. Choose the number of certified copies
4. Pay the county fee by card
5. Choose the delivery addressCopies are sent by mail.

County fees and delivery options change from time to time, so check the current details on the Clark County website before you order.

Clark County marriage certificate copy by mail

If you prefer mail, the Recorder accepts written requests. You will usually need to send:

• Both full names, as they appear on the license
• The date of the marriage
• The number of certified copies you want
• Payment of the county fee
• A return address

Mail takes longer in both directions, so allow extra time if you have a deadline.

Using a document service

If you have a deadline, a local service can order the copies in person and ship them to you with tracking.

Just Vows handles marriage certificate filing for ceremonies performed at our studio, with rush and same-day options. If you married elsewhere and need help with copies or an apostille, call 725-255-7774 and we will tell you what we can do.

Just Vows ships documents within the US from $6 (USPS Ground) and worldwide by DHL Express for $95.

How many certified copies do I need?

Order enough at once to avoid a second order later. A practical guide:

Most couples order two or three. Couples moving abroad or applying for immigration benefits often order more.

Replace a lost Las Vegas marriage certificate

A lost certificate is not a problem: you simply order a new certified copy the same way. The record stays with Clark County, so a copy can be issued at any time after the marriage was recorded.

If what you lost is the decorative souvenir certificate from your ceremony, note that it is not a legal document. Only a certified copy from the county proves your marriage.

Do you need an apostille as well?

If you will use the certificate in another country, you may also need an apostille from the Nevada Secretary of State. The apostille is added to a certified copy, never to the license or the souvenir certificate. See our Nevada marriage certificate apostille service.

Not sure which document is which? Read marriage license vs marriage certificate.

How to tell a certified copy from a souvenir certificate

Many couples leave Las Vegas with a decorative certificate and assume it is the real thing. It is not. Here is how to tell them apart:

If you are not sure which one you have, check whether it was issued by the county. When in doubt, order a certified copy.

Ordering methods compared

Choose based on your deadline. If a visa office, employer or bank has given you a date, allow extra time for delivery, especially to an address outside the US.

What if there is a mistake on your marriage record?

Check your certified copy as soon as it arrives. Spelling mistakes in names or wrong dates can cause problems later, especially for passports and immigration.

If you find an error, contact the Clark County office that keeps marriage records and ask how to correct or amend it. The process usually involves a written request and evidence of the correct information. Fixing it early is far easier than explaining a mismatch years later.

The exact correction process is set by Clark County, so contact the county through the Clark County website for the current steps.

Can someone else order a copy for you?

Often, yes. Couples ask a family member in Nevada, an attorney or a document service to order copies for them. The person ordering will usually need your names, the marriage date and payment. Check the county’s current rules on who may request a certified copy before you ask someone to go on your behalf.

Keeping your certified copies safe

Once your copies arrive, a little care saves you from ordering again:

• Store them flat in a folder or envelope, away from water and sunlight.
• Do not laminate them. A laminated certificate may be rejected, because officials cannot check it properly.
• Never write on them or staple them to other papers.
• Keep one copy at home that you never send anywhere, so you always have proof of marriage.
• Scan or photograph each one for your records. A scan is not accepted as proof, but it helps when you fill in forms.

If an office asks for “the original”, they almost always mean a certified copy, not the decorative certificate from your ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions