Marriage Information

Because of continuing confusion among Catholic couples throughout the world wishing to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony in Las Vegas, the following is to assist them in legitimately celebrating a Catholic wedding. Canon Law requires Catholics to be married in a Catholic Church in the presence of a priest or deacon who is in good standing with the Catholic Church.

For those couples residing outside of the Diocese of Las Vegas, the first steps are for the couple to contact the parish in the Diocese of Las Vegas to begin the preparation processes –AND– to contact their local parish priest to set an appointment to begin premarital preparation.  While the wedding will take place in Las Vegas, the marriage preparation can be done locally.  Do not set a wedding date until you have spoken with pastor of the parish where the wedding will take place.
The parish in Las Vegas will have the appropriate paperwork for marriage preparation, but for all couples, the following documents will need to be obtained:

1. Pre-nuptial Investigation Forms:  The parish priest in Las Vegas will provide your parish with our prenuptial forms.  These must be completed with your parish’s priest or deacon. 
2. Affidavits of Freedom to Marry for both bride and groom within the previous six months:  We will accept these forms from any diocese. 
3. Recently issued Baptismal Certificates (within six months) for all Catholic parties.
4. Any required dispensations from the Diocese of the Catholic Party.  The pastor of the parish in Las Vegas will determine which ones need to be obtained. 
5. If applicable, Declaration of Nullity for any previous marriage(s).
6. If applicable, Widow/Widower's death certificate of spouse(s).
7. Your parish priest's written statement that pre-marital instructions have been given to both parties.
8. Your parish priest’s permission for the priest in Las Vegas to perform the marriage here.
9. A State of Nevada Marriage License must be obtained from the Clark County Marriage Bureau, 200 S. Third Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada.  The bride and groom must appear together before a marriage license agent to obtain a marriage license. In Las Vegas, Nevada, no blood tests, waiting period, residence, or citizenship is required to obtain a marriage license. Licenses are issued immediately and expire one year from date of issue.  All licenses are processed solely through the County Clerk’s office.  Licenses from other states or countries are not accepted by the State of Nevada.

When all of these papers have been obtained by your parish priest, they are to be forwarded to the Chancery Office of diocese of the Catholic couple or party for the “Visum.” Your Chancery Office will then send the required documents to the Chancery Office of the Diocese of Las Vegas, 336 Cathedral Way, Las Vegas, Nevada 89114, for the Nihil Obstat.  This is to be done no later than 60 days prior to the date of the wedding.

Catholic wedding ceremonies in the Diocese of Las Vegas will take place in a Catholic Church or Mission.  Weddings are not permitted in casinos, casino wedding chapels, independent wedding venues/chapels, private residences, outdoor venues, or non-Catholic churches.  Anyone claiming to perform Catholic ceremonies in these venues is not performing a wedding that is recognized as Valid in the Catholic Church. 

There is one exception to this: In the case of a marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person or a baptized non-Catholic, permission to celebrate the wedding in a church building other than a Catholic Church, (excluded are wedding chapels of any type of Casino Chapel) may be sought directly from the Bishop if there are objections of conscience by non-Catholics. In such a case, the Catholic party’s priest or deacon must seek a “Dispensation from Disparity of Cult” AND a Dispensation from “Canonical form of place” from the Bishop of Las Vegas. The priest or deacon preparing the couple for this type of marriage must obtain these dispensations PRIOR TO the celebration of the wedding.  These dispensations are never granted for two Catholic parties. 

For catholic priests or deacons wishing to celebrate a wedding in a parish in the diocese of las vegas
There are two requirements for priests or deacons wishing to preside at a wedding in the Diocese of Las Vegas:

1. 1. The priest / deacon must obtain a one-time Civil Marriage Officiant License:  This is obtained for the State of Nevada Marriage through the Clark County Marriage Bureau, 200 S. Third Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada.  This can be done online at the following link:  https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/elected_officials/county_clerk/other_services/marriage_officiants_(becoming_a_marriage_officiant).php
   2. At least 60 days before the wedding is to take place, a Letter of Good Standing in the standardized format suggested by the USCCB on the letterhead of the diocese or religious institute of visiting priest or deacon must be sent to:

Office of the Chancellor
Diocese of Las Vegas
336 Cathedral Way
Las Vegas, NV 89109-0716  

Please note that the Letter of Good Standing must include the priest or deacon's full name and address, the name of the Church of the wedding, the date of the wedding, and the names of the couple marrying. 
Priests and deacons are reminded that for validity of the sacrament, the delegation from the Pastor of the parish must be obtained.  This delegation is included on the last page of the Diocese of Las Vegas premarital preparation forms, or can be given in writing separately.  This is retained in the permanent premarital preparation paperwork.