What is the role of the Clark County Clerk?

Independent Record Keeper
The County Clerk serves as the Secretary to the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Equalization, the Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board, the UMC of Southern Nevada Board of Trustees, the Debt Management Commission and several other county boards.   Because the County Clerk is elected rather than appointed, she operates as an independent record keeper to these boards. 
Official documents, including board meeting minutes, vote records and county contracts are maintained by the County Clerk.   Requests for copies of official records are submitted to the County Clerk rather than to members of the various Boards.   This is to assure that responses to such requests are timely, complete and accurate.   The County Clerk responds equally and fairly to all parties needing access to county records, including subpoenas in legal actions, requests from the press, and inquiries from concerned citizens.  

Issues Marriage Licenses
The Clark County Clerk is responsible for the issuance of all marriage licenses in the county.   Clark County is home to Las Vegas, Nevada, the “marriage capital of the world.”   In 2009, over 93,000 marriage licenses were issued by the Clark County Clerk’s Office, more than any other county.  The marriage industry is a very large part of the Las Vegas tourist economy.  It is the duty of the County Clerk to not only assure compliance with all laws and statutes when issuing marriage licenses, but to do everything possible to make getting married in Las Vegas a pleasant and happy experience for the many couples who come here each year.
All ministers and “other persons authorized to perform marriages” must obtain a Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriages from the County Clerk.  The performance of marriages is a serious responsibility.   Getting married changes a couple’s vital records.  In addition, it often affects their finances, including disbursement of retirement accounts, distribution of social security benefits and beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, to name just a few.   It is the Clerk’s responsibility to assure that individuals who solemnize marriages perform this duty responsibly, and process vital documents according to state law.

Commissioner of Civil Marriages
As the Commissioner of Civil Marriages, the Clark County Clerk operates the “Office of the Commissioner of Civil Marriages” where couples may have their marriage solemnized in a tranquil, private and dignified ceremony.   The fee for these civil marriage ceremonies is set by Nevada law and Clerk employees receive no additional remuneration for this service.

Other Record Keeping Responsibilities

Fictitious Firm Names:  Every person doing business in Nevada under an assumed or fictitious name, must file with the County Clerk a certificate containing the business name.  (Commonly referred to as a “DBA” certificate.)

Bonds and Oaths of Notary Publics:  Every person wishing to become a Notary Public must file his or her bond, together with the oath, with the County Clerk of the county in which the applicant resides.  The County Clerk immediately certifies to the Secretary of State that the required bond and oath have been filed and recorded.  Applicants may also be sworn in by the County Clerk or one of her deputies.

Passport Acceptance:  The Clark County Clerk operates as a Passport Acceptance Agency for the U. S. Department of State.    Passport applications and renewals are processed by the Clerk’s Office from 8:00 to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.