If you are planning to remarry after a divorce and wondering how long you have to wait, Nevada has a clear and favorable answer: there is no waiting period. The moment your divorce is final, you are legally free to remarry. In Las Vegas, that means you can walk out of the courthouse with a finalized divorce decree and apply for a new marriage license the same afternoon.
The short answer: Nevada imposes no waiting period between the finalization of a divorce and remarriage. You must have a fully signed and entered Decree of Divorce. A legal separation is not enough. Once the decree is final, you can get a new Clark County marriage license the same day.
The only thing standing between your divorce and your ability to remarry is the final Decree of Divorce. This is the court order that officially dissolves your marriage. Until the judge signs and the court enters that order, you are still legally married regardless of how long you have been separated or whether both spouses have agreed to the divorce terms.
This matters more than people expect. If you filed for divorce, signed a settlement agreement, and even had a court hearing, you are still not free to remarry until the actual decree is signed and entered by the court. Your attorney should provide you with a certified copy of the decree when the case closes.
A legal separation in Nevada is a separate legal status from divorce. If you pursued a legal separation rather than a full divorce, you remain legally married and cannot remarry. To be eligible to marry someone new, your prior marriage must be formally dissolved through a final divorce decree. If you are unsure whether your case resulted in a legal separation or a full divorce, your attorney can review the final order with you.
Once your divorce is final, you apply for a new marriage license through the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. The process is straightforward:
Both parties must appear in person at the license bureau to obtain the license. The license is valid for one year from the date of issuance.
If your divorce was finalized in another state and you want to get married in Las Vegas, Nevada will recognize your out-of-state divorce decree. You do not need to re-file or register your divorce in Nevada. You simply need to be able to confirm that your prior marriage was legally dissolved. Bring your divorce decree or be prepared to provide the date and jurisdiction of the divorce when you apply for your Nevada marriage license.
The same rule applies: the out-of-state divorce must be fully final. If proceedings are still ongoing in another state, you cannot legally marry in Nevada.
If your divorce decree included a name change restoring your prior name, there is one practical step worth handling before you apply for a new marriage license: update your government-issued ID to reflect your restored name. When you apply for the marriage license, your ID and the name you want on the license should match. If they do not, it can create paperwork complications down the road.
Updating your name after a Nevada divorce typically involves presenting your certified decree at the Social Security Administration first, then the DMV. See our full guide: How to Change Your Name After a Divorce in Nevada.
Timing tip: If you are in a hurry to remarry, the fastest path in Nevada is an uncontested divorce using a Joint Petition. From filing to final decree, uncontested cases in Clark County typically take 2 to 6 weeks. There is no waiting period after the decree, so a fast uncontested divorce is also a fast path to a new marriage license.
Many states impose a waiting period between finalizing a divorce and being eligible to remarry. For example, Texas requires 30 days after the divorce is final before either party can remarry (absent a court waiver). Wisconsin requires 6 months. Michigan requires 28 days. Nevada has no such restriction, which is consistent with the state's historically marriage-friendly and divorce-accessible legal framework.
PRO LAW GROUP has helped Las Vegas families navigate divorce and its aftermath for 25+ years. If you have questions about whether your divorce is fully final, what your decree says, or how to move forward, contact us for a free consultation or call (702) 474-0500, Monday through Thursday 8:30am to 5pm, Friday 8:30am to 3pm.