Nebraska Wedding Laws

What to expect when officiating a wedding.

Requirements for the Minister

  • Minimum Age: 18 years
  • Residency: Not Required
  • Documents Required: Varies by County
  • Online Ordination Recognized: Yes
  • Registration Office: County Clerk

Ministers must be 18+ and ordained through Ministries of Love. Ministers are legally recognized in Nebraska as “religious actors.” Documentation requirements vary by county, and ministers should carry proof of ordination.


Wedding Ceremony Requirements

  • Marriage By Proxy: Not Allowed
  • Minister Presence: Required
  • Witnesses Required: 2

The minister, couple, and two witnesses must be physically present. The couple must declare their intent to marry, and the officiant must formally pronounce them married.


Marriage License Requirements

  • License Pickup: By Mail or In Person
  • Cost: $25 ($9 per additional certified copy)
  • Accepted ID: Driver’s License, Passport, or Birth Certificate
  • Proof of Divorce: Not Required
  • Blood Test: Not Required

Couples must complete and submit a marriage license application to any county clerk in Nebraska. Valid ID is required, but proof of divorce or blood tests are not.


Marriage License Facts

  • Ceremony Type: Religious or Civil
  • Waiting Period: None
  • License Validity: 1 Year
  • Submission Deadline: Within 15 Days

Marriage licenses are valid for 1 year and can be used immediately. The officiant must return the completed certificate to the issuing county clerk within 15 days of the ceremony.


Requirements for the Couple

  • Minimum Age: 19 years (17 with guardian consent)
  • Residency: Not Required
  • Minimum Kin Distance: Second Cousins
  • Marriage Equality: Yes

Couples must be 19+ to marry or 17+ with guardian consent. Minors under 17 and marriages involving close relatives, living spouses, or certain health conditions are prohibited. Same-sex marriages are legally recognized.


Final Steps

  • Officiant Title: Minister
  • Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love
  • Address: Minister’s Home Address

The officiant must complete the marriage certificate, including the names and residences of two witnesses, and return it to the issuing county clerk within 15 days. The documents will then be recorded, and the marriage deemed legally binding.