Minister/Church-Religious Official Forms

Application for Permanent Certificate of Permission

For first time applicants or previous certificate holders residing in Washoe County, Nevada, who have been removed, changed churches or religious organizations.

Affidavit of Authority - Permanent and Temporary Replacement

This document must be signed by someone in your church or religious organization that has authority to speak on behalf of your church or religious organization and can verify that you are in good standing within that church or religious organization and must be submitted in conjunction with your application. This cannot be signed by the applicant and must be signed before a Notary Public or Deputy County Clerk.

Application for Single Ceremony Certificate of Permission

NRS 122 provides that a licensed, ordained or appointed minister, other church or religious official authorized to solemnize a marriage, active or retired, may submit to the county clerk in the county in which a marriage is to be performed an application to perform a specific marriage in the county.  A separate Application and Certificate of Permission is required for each marriage performed.  No more than five marriages may be performed in this state in any calendar year.

Affidavit of Authority – Single Ceremony

This document must be signed by someone in your church or religious organization that has authority to speak on behalf of your church or religious organization and can verify that you are in good standing within that church or religious organization and must be submitted in conjunction with your Application for Single Ceremony Certificate of Permission . This cannot be signed by the applicant and must be signed before a Notary Public or Deputy County Clerk

If you are associated with the Catholic Church, please contact the Diocese of Reno before completing your Single Ceremony Application - 775 329-9274

Application for Temporary Replacement Certificate of Permission

A temporary certificate of permission may be obtained for a local applicant filling in for another minister or other religious official authorized to perform marriages during an absence for a period not to exceed 90 days.

Application for Retired Status Certificate of Permission

For current certificate holders wishing to apply for a "Retired Status" Certificate. NRS states that the fact that a minister is retired does not disqualify him from obtaining a certificate of permission to perform marriages if, before his retirement, he had active charge of a church or religious organization for a period of at least 3 years.

Change of Address / Name – Religious Official

Any change of address for a minister or other religious official requires completion of a Religious Change of Address form. Please notify us of address changes on the appropriate form and return it to the address listed to the left. Certificate holders will need to reapply if they change to a new church or religious organization.

Change of Address – Religious Organization

Any address change for church or religious organizations requires completion of a Religious Organization Change of Address form. Please notify us of address changes on the appropriate form and return it to the address listed to the left. Certificate holders will need to reapply if they change to a new church or religious organization.

Retired Status - Notice of Relocation to another Nevada County

Retired ministers who are moving to another county in the State of Nevada are not required to reapply for permission to perform marriages so long as they retain the authority through their churches or religious organizations.  However, such person must provide his or her new address in writing to the county clerk in the county to which the minister or other religious official authorized to solemnize a marriage has moved.

Affidavit of Removal

The religious organization with which a minister or other church or religious official authorized to solemnize marriage is affiliated must submit an Affidavit of Removal of Authority to Solemnize Marriages within five (5) days following any one or more of the occurrences listed below:

1. If minister or other person authorized to solemnize marriages is no longer in good standing as herein stated;
2. If minister or other person authorized to solemnize marriages has ceased to be a member of the church or religious organization;
3. If minister or other person authorized to solemnize marriages has ceased to be a minister or other person authorized to solemnize marriages of the church or religious organization;
4. If minister or other person authorized to solemnize marriages moves his/her residence from Washoe County;
5. If the aforementioned church or religious organization changes address or location; or
6. If the church or religious organization is dissolved or otherwise terminated or changes its existence.

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