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Original poster

If you get married in Vegas, is it recognised legally in UK?

20 replies

garlictwist · 26/08/2023 08:36

OH and I are off to see some friends in the states next week and I'm thinking it might be quite fun to get married in Vegas while we are there. (Been together 15 years so not a snap thing!).

Just wondering if anyones ever done this and how it works?

OP posts:
Friggingfrog · 26/08/2023 08:38

I was married in Nevada, (not vegas though) although on the border so registered in California. Had to be notarised but is recognised and legal here

dahliadazed · 26/08/2023 08:40

Yes it’s legal.
I did it a few years ago. First we had to go to the government office to register our intent to marry, then we got married a couple of days later.

Original poster
garlictwist · 26/08/2023 08:42

So you can't just rock up and do it a la Ross and Rachel?

OP posts:

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Weddings
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 26/08/2023 08:42

I did it. I assume it is.

Greenshake · 26/08/2023 08:43

Yes it is, but as dahlia says you have to get a licence beforehand

dahliadazed · 26/08/2023 08:44

garlictwist · 26/08/2023 08:42

So you can't just rock up and do it a la Ross and Rachel?

You need to get a marriage license first from the county office but it can be done the same day.

Vickythevan63 · 26/08/2023 08:45

A close friend of mine married in Vegas, and yes it’s legal.

Just one suggestion - get multiple copies of marriage certificate whilst you are there.

She was widowed recently and needed copies to send off to banks, pensions etc. Its not as easy to get extra copies from USA as it is from UK!!

MumofSpud · 26/08/2023 08:48

Yes we got married in Vegas (albeit in 2001)
Yes you need a licence but we got it the same day - got a limo to the courthouse then onto the 'chapel'
Great fun!
All v easy - and last year when I needed an original copy of our Cert, I did this on line no problem
Congratulations!

MumofSpud · 26/08/2023 08:50

Vickythevan63 · 26/08/2023 08:45

A close friend of mine married in Vegas, and yes it’s legal.

Just one suggestion - get multiple copies of marriage certificate whilst you are there.

She was widowed recently and needed copies to send off to banks, pensions etc. Its not as easy to get extra copies from USA as it is from UK!!

I don't know if your friend is me (!) but I was also widowed last year and was so worried about getting the copies of the cert - I was shocked at how easy it was (and v v fast!)

Vickythevan63 · 26/08/2023 08:58

@MumofSpud

Ah, you aren’t my friend but it sounds as if my friend was worrying needlessly then!

I have no idea if she even ordered extra copies, but she did discuss with me initially that getting extras wouldn’t be as easy as in UK!

But it’s still probably worth to get some extras upfront.

Original poster
garlictwist · 26/08/2023 08:58

Thanks all. I'll have a word with him and see if he's up for it!

OP posts:
TolkiensFallow · 26/08/2023 09:01

the queue at the court house is much quicker if you do the application online first. But yes legally recognised.

Loopylou38 · 10/09/2023 09:42

Hi , where can I order extra marriage certs from vegas please ?

Herecomesdehotstepper · 10/09/2023 09:45

Vickythevan63 · 26/08/2023 08:45

A close friend of mine married in Vegas, and yes it’s legal.

Just one suggestion - get multiple copies of marriage certificate whilst you are there.

She was widowed recently and needed copies to send off to banks, pensions etc. Its not as easy to get extra copies from USA as it is from UK!!

Yes, it's legal and wherever you get married abroad, make sure you have copies of the certificate, just in case.

LlynTegid · 10/09/2023 10:25

So @garlictwist did you get married, and if so, how did the day go?

Puppylucky · 10/09/2023 10:32

Just a quick bit of extra info though- it's only legal if you file the paperwork in the US licensing dept afterwards. We were "married" for 15 years before I discovered that!

Loopylou38 · 10/09/2023 16:08

Really ?? I never knew this , we’ve been married 19 years and I can’t remember if we filed it
Do you know how I could find out please ?

LokiCokey · 10/09/2023 18:19

@Loopylou38 our chapel took care of this and filled for us. Official marriage certs were posted to us. The one we left the chapel with was a fake effectively. So as long as you've got an official one that's all stamped etc you're fine

Loopylou38 · 10/09/2023 18:46

Thankyou we did have certs posted to us , I was nervous for a while 🙈
Ive just ordered copies of the marriage certs that’s good advice

MumofSpud · 11/09/2023 21:00

Loopylou38 · 10/09/2023 16:08

Really ?? I never knew this , we’ve been married 19 years and I can’t remember if we filed it
Do you know how I could find out please ?

We never did this - so the chapel must have done it was in no fit state after to do anything this sensible!!

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