Our complete list of the 18 Nebraska Revised Statutes relevant to marriage. American Marriage Ministries provides a comprehensive list of laws for Nebraska related to the marriage license, who can officiate weddings, and officiant registration.
The law(s) below are the relevant statutes relating to who can solemnize marriage and officiant registration in Nebraska (where applicable).
Every judge, retired judge, clerk magistrate, or retired clerk magistrate, and every preacher of the gospel authorized by the usages of the church to which he or she belongs to solemnize marriages, may perform the marriage ceremony in this state. Every such person performing the marriage ceremony shall make a return of his or her proceedings in the premises, showing the names and residences of at least two witnesses who were present at such marriage. The return shall be made to the county clerk who issued the license within fifteen days after such marriage has been performed. The county clerk shall record the return or cause it to be recorded in the same book where the marriage license is recorded.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 8, p. 255; Laws 1869, § 2, p. 168; R.S.1913, § 1547; C.S.1922, § 1496; Laws 1927, c. 77, § 1, p. 242; C.S.1929, § 42-108; R.S.1943, § 42-108; Laws 1951, c. 124, § 1, p. 542; Laws 1971, LB 42, § 2; Laws 1972, LB 1032, § 249; Laws 1973, LB 226, § 28; Laws 1981, LB 55, § 1; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 8; Laws 2006, LB 1115, § 28.
Below you can read through our curated list of all Nebraska laws related to marriage, weddings, officiants, and marriage licenses. If it is in any way marriage related, you will find it here.
In the solemnization of marriage no particular form shall be required, except that the parties shall solemnly declare in the presence of the magistrate or minister and the attending witnesses, that they take each other as husband and wife; and in any case there shall be at least two witnesses, besides the minister or magistrate present at the ceremony.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 9, p. 255; R.S.1913, § 1548; C.S.1922, § 1497; C.S.1929, § 42-109; R.S.1943, § 42-109.
Whenever a marriage shall have been solemnized pursuant to the provisions of sections 42-101 to 42-117, the minister or magistrate who solemnized the same shall give to each of the parties, on request, a certificate under his hand, specifying the names, ages and places of residence of the parties married, the names and residences of at least two witnesses who were present at such marriage, and the time and place thereof.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 10, p. 255; R.S.1913, § 1549; C.S.1922, § 1498; C.S.1929, § 42-110; R.S.1943, § 42-110.
The county clerk of each county in the state shall record all such returns of such marriages in a book to be kept for that purpose within one month after receiving the returns.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 12, p. 255; R.S.1913, § 1551; C.S.1922, § 1500; C.S.1929, § 42-112; R.S.1943, § 42-112; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 9.
Marriages are void (1) when either party has a husband or wife living at the time of the marriage, (2) when either party, at the time of marriage, is mentally incompetent to enter into the marriage relation, and (3) when the parties are related to each other as parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, brother and sister of half as well as whole blood, first cousins when of whole blood, uncle and niece, and aunt and nephew. This subdivision extends to children and relatives born out of wedlock as well as those born in wedlock.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 3, p. 254; Laws 1911, c. 76, § 1, p. 322; Laws 1913, c. 72, § 1, p. 216; R.S.1913, § 1542; C.S.1922, § 1491; C.S.1929, § 42-103; R.S.1943, § 42-103; Laws 1963, c. 243, § 1, p. 736; Laws 1976, LB 990, § 1; Laws 1986, LB 1177, § 14; Laws 1989, LB 22, § 1.
It shall be lawful for every religious society to join together in marriage such persons as are of the society, according to the rites and customs of the society to which they belong. The clerk or keeper of the minutes, proceedings, or other book of the religious society in which such marriage shall be had, or if there be no such clerk or keeper of the minutes, then the moderator or person presiding in such society, shall make out and transmit to the county clerk of the county a certificate of the marriage, and the same shall be recorded in the same manner as is provided in sections 42-108 to 42-112.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 15, p. 256; R.S.1913, § 1554; C.S.1922, § 1503; C.S.1929, § 42-115; R.S.1943, § 42-115; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 11.
Prior to the solemnization of any marriage in this state, a license for that purpose shall be obtained from a county clerk in the State of Nebraska. Applications for a marriage license made with the county court prior to January 1, 1987, shall be processed and licenses shall be issued by the county court according to the law and procedures in effect on the date each application was made. No marriage hereafter contracted shall be recognized as valid unless such license has been previously obtained and used within one year from the date of issuance and unless such marriage is solemnized by a person authorized by law to solemnize marriages. Each party shall present satisfactory documentary proof of and shall swear or affirm to the application giving: (1) Full name of each applicant and residence; and (2) the place, date, and year of birth of each.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 4, p. 254; R.S.1913, § 1543; C.S.1922, § 1492; Laws 1923, c. 40, § 2, p. 154; Laws 1925, c. 84, § 1, p. 261; C.S.1929, § 42-104; Laws 1943, c. 103, § 9, p. 348; R.S.1943, § 42-104; Laws 1971, LB 42, § 1; Laws 1971, LB 728, § 2; Laws 1975, LB 295, § 1; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 4; Laws 1988, LB 1126, § 2.
Persons under nineteen years of age declared minors; marriage, effect; person eighteen years of age or older; rights and responsibility: (1) All persons under nineteen years of age are declared to be minors, but in case any person marries under the age of nineteen years, his or her minority ends. (2) Upon becoming the age of majority, a person is considered an adult and acquires all rights and responsibilities granted or imposed by statute or common law, except that a person: (a) Eighteen years of age or older and who is not a ward of the state may: (i) Enter into a binding contract or lease of whatever kind or nature and shall be legally responsible for such contract or lease, including legal responsibility to third parties; (ii) Execute, sign, authorize, or otherwise authenticate (A) an effective financing statement, (B) a promissory note or other instrument evidencing an obligation to repay, or (C) a mortgage, trust deed, security agreement, financing statement, or other security instrument to grant a lien or security interest in real or personal property or fixtures, and shall be legally responsible for such document, including legal responsibility to third parties; and (iii) Acquire or convey title to real property and shall have legal responsibility for such acquisition or conveyance, including legal responsibility to third parties; and (b) Eighteen years of age or older may consent to mental health services for himself or herself without the consent of his or her parent or guardian.
R.S.1866, c. 23, § 1, p. 178; R.S.1913, § 1627; Laws 1921, c. 247, § 1, p. 853; C.S.1922, § 1576; C.S.1929, § 38-101; R.S.1943, § 38-101; Laws 1965, c. 207, § 1, p. 613; Laws 1969, c. 298, § 1, p. 1072; Laws 1972, LB 1086, § 1; R.S.1943, (1984), § 38-101; Laws 1988, LB 790, § 6; Laws 2010, LB226, § 2; Laws 2018, LB982, § 1; Laws 2019, LB55, § 5.
In law, marriage is considered a civil contract, to which the consent of the parties capable of contracting is essential.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 1, p. 254; R.S.1913, § 1540; C.S.1922, § 1489; C.S.1929, § 42-101; R.S.1943, § 42-101.
At the time of the marriage the male must be of the age of seventeen years or upward, and the female of the age of seventeen years or upward. No person who is afflicted with a venereal disease shall marry in this state.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 2, p. 254; R.S.1913, § 1541; C.S.1922, § 1490; Laws 1923, c. 40, § 1, p. 154; C.S.1929, § 42-102; R.S.1943, § 42-102; Laws 1963, c. 242, § 1, p. 735; Laws 1965, c. 230, § 1, p. 673; Laws 1971, LB 728, § 1; Laws 1978, LB 165, § 1.
When either party is a minor, no license shall be granted without the written consent under oath of: (1) Either one of the parents of such minor, if the parents are living together; (2) the parent having the legal custody of such minor, if the parents are living separate and apart from each other; (3) the surviving parent, if one of the parents of such minor is deceased; or (4) the guardian, conservator, or person under whose care and government such minor may be, if both parents of such minor are deceased or if such guardian, conservator, or person has the legal and actual custody of such minor. The county clerk shall be justified in issuing the license, without further proof, upon receiving an affidavit setting forth the facts with reference to the conditions above specified and giving consent to the marriage, signed by the person authorized to give written consent under such circumstances.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 5, p. 254; R.S.1913, §§ 1543, 1544; C.S.1922, §§ 1492, 1493; Laws 1923, c. 40, § 2, p. 154; Laws 1925, c. 84, § 1, p. 261; C.S.1929, §§ 42-104, 42-105; R.S.1943, § 42-105; Laws 1945, c. 99, § 1, p. 327; Laws 1975, LB 481, § 28; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 5.
When an application is made for a license to the county clerk, he or she shall, upon the granting of such license, state in the license the information contained in the application as provided in section 42-104. The license shall, prior to the issuing thereof, be entered of record in the office of the county clerk in a suitable book to be provided for that purpose. The forms for the application, license, and certificate of marriage shall be provided by the Department of Health and Human Services at actual cost as determined by the department.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 6, p. 254; Laws 1869, § 1, p. 167; R.S.1913, § 1545; C.S.1922, § 1494; C.S.1929, § 42-106; R.S.1943, § 42-106; Laws 1971, LB 728, § 3; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 6; Laws 1989, LB 344, § 3; Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 96; Laws 2007, LB296, § 55.
If the required proof is not given, if it shall appear that either of the parties is legally incompetent to enter into such contract or that there is any impediment in the way, or if either party is a minor and the consent mentioned in section 42-105 shall not be given, the county clerk shall refuse to grant a license.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 7, p. 255; R.S.1913, § 1546; C.S.1922, § 1495; C.S.1929, § 42-107; R.S.1943, § 42-107; Laws 1971, LB 728, § 4; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 7.
If any justice, minister, or other person whose duty it is to make and transmit to the county clerk such certificate shall neglect to make and deliver the same; if the county clerk shall neglect to record such certificate; if any person shall undertake to join others in marriage, knowing that he or she is not legally authorized so to do or knowing of any legal impediment to the proposed marriage; if any person authorized to solemnize any marriage shall willfully and knowingly make a false certificate of any marriage to the county clerk; or if the county clerk shall willfully and knowingly make a false record of any certificate of marriage, he or she shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 13, p. 255; R.S.1913, § 1552; C.S.1922, § 1501; C.S.1929, § 42-113; R.S.1943, § 42-113; Laws 1977, LB 40, § 225; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 10.
No marriage solemnized before any person professing to be a minister of the gospel, shall be deemed or adjudged to be void, nor shall the validity thereof be in any way affected on account of any want of jurisdiction or authority in such supposed minister; Provided, the marriage be consummated with a full belief on the part of the persons so married, or either of them, that they have been lawfully joined in marriage.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 14, p. 256; R.S.1913, § 1533; C.S.1922, § 1502; C.S.1929, § 42-114; R.S.1943, § 42-114; Laws 1972, LB 1032, § 250.
The original certificate and record of marriage made by the minister, officer, or person, as prescribed in sections 42-101 to 42-117, and the record thereof, made as prescribed, a copy of such record, duly certified by such officer, or an abstract of marriage as defined in section 71-601.01, shall be received in all courts and places as presumptive evidence of the fact of such marriage.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 16, p. 256; R.S.1913, § 1555; C.S.1922, § 1504; C.S.1929, § 42-116; R.S.1943, § 42-116; Laws 2006, LB 1115, § 29.
All marriages contracted without this state, which would be valid by the laws of the country in which the same were contracted, shall be valid in all courts and places in this state.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 17, p. 257; R.S.1913, § 1556; C.S.1922, § 1505; C.S.1929, § 42-117; R.S.1943, § 42-117.
In case of a marriage solemnized when either of the parties is under the age of legal consent, if they shall separate during such nonage, and not cohabit together afterwards, or in case the consent of one of the parties was obtained by force or fraud, and there shall have been no subsequently voluntary cohabitation of the parties, the marriage shall be deemed voidable.
R.S.1866, c. 16, § 2, p. 128; R.S.1913, § 1557; C.S.1922, § 1506; C.S.1929, § 42-118; R.S.1943, § 42-118.
Every judge, retired judge, clerk magistrate, or retired clerk magistrate, and every preacher of the gospel authorized by the usages of the church to which he or she belongs to solemnize marriages, may perform the marriage ceremony in this state. Every such person performing the marriage ceremony shall make a return of his or her proceedings in the premises, showing the names and residences of at least two witnesses who were present at such marriage. The return shall be made to the county clerk who issued the license within fifteen days after such marriage has been performed. The county clerk shall record the return or cause it to be recorded in the same book where the marriage license is recorded.
R.S.1866, c. 34, § 8, p. 255; Laws 1869, § 2, p. 168; R.S.1913, § 1547; C.S.1922, § 1496; Laws 1927, c. 77, § 1, p. 242; C.S.1929, § 42-108; R.S.1943, § 42-108; Laws 1951, c. 124, § 1, p. 542; Laws 1971, LB 42, § 2; Laws 1972, LB 1032, § 249; Laws 1973, LB 226, § 28; Laws 1981, LB 55, § 1; Laws 1986, LB 525, § 8; Laws 2006, LB 1115, § 28.
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