This affidavit is the sworn statement, addressed to the Washoe County Clerk in Nevada, in which a church or religious organization states that a named minister or other religious official is in good standing and authorized to solemnize marriages. The PDF is titled Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriages for Churches and Religious Organizations. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by the Washoe County Clerk, and the affidavit still has to be sworn before a notary public or deputy clerk.
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What is Affidavit of Authority - Permanent and Temporary Replacement – Washoe County, NV?
The Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriages for Churches and Religious Organizations is a sworn statement, published by the Washoe County Clerk in Nevada, in which a church or religious organization identifies itself and vouches for a minister or other religious official who is to solemnize marriages.
The text of the affidavit has four parts. First, it places the organization in Nevada and gives the street address, city or town of its active meetings. Second, the organization states that the named minister or other official is in good standing and is authorized by the organization to complete and submit the affidavit. Third, it contains an undertaking to notify the Washoe County Clerk in writing, by submitting an Affidavit of Revocation of Authority to Solemnize Marriages, within five (5) days after any of six listed events. Fourth, it carries the signature block of the official (signature, printed name, title, address, city, state and ZIP code, and telephone number) and a jurat: "Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me," completed by a notary public or deputy clerk who affixes the county seal or notary stamp.
The form header shown in the Clerk's catalog reads "Permanent and Temporary Replacement," while the PDF's own title is the one above. The affidavit does not itself grant a license; it is the statement the organization signs under oath about the person named.
Who needs to file Affidavit of Authority - Permanent and Temporary Replacement – Washoe County, NV?
The main group is an official of a church or religious organization that carries on its work in Nevada and wants a minister or other religious official recognized to solemnize marriages with the Washoe County Clerk. The affidavit is signed by an official of the organization, who gives a name, title, address and telephone number.
What the form says about the people involved:
- The organization states that the person named is a minister or other church or religious official in good standing.
- The form says that person is authorized by the organization to complete and submit the affidavit.
- The person who signs undertakes to report to the Washoe County Clerk, in writing, if the minister is no longer in good standing, has left the organization or lost the role, moves his or her residence from Washoe County, if the organization changes address or location, or if it is dissolved or otherwise terminated.
The form is written for churches and religious organizations. It prints no rules for anyone else, and it does not describe a different procedure for individuals or other kinds of organizations.
When to file Affidavit of Authority - Permanent and Temporary Replacement – Washoe County, NV
The form prints no due date for submitting the affidavit itself, so it is completed when the church or religious organization is ready to vouch for the minister or official it names. Have it sworn before a notary public or deputy clerk as part of that step.
The five-day rule on the form concerns later changes. The signer undertakes to notify the Washoe County Clerk in writing, with an Affidavit of Revocation of Authority to Solemnize Marriages, within five (5) days after any of these events:
- the minister is no longer in good standing;
- the minister has ceased to be a member of the organization;
- the minister has ceased to be a person authorized to solemnize marriages for the organization;
- the minister moves his or her residence from Washoe County;
- the organization changes address or location; or
- the organization is dissolved, terminated or changes its existence.
How to fill out Affidavit of Authority - Permanent and Temporary Replacement – Washoe County, NV
Enter the county
At the top, after "State of Nevada," write the county in the blank after "County of" for the venue of the affidavit.
Name the church or organization
In the first blank, write the name of the church or religious organization, which the form says is organized and carries on its work in Nevada.
Give the address of active meetings
Write the street address, city or town where the organization's active meetings are located.
Name the minister or official
In the "hereby finds that" sentence, enter the organization's name and then the name of the minister, other church or religious official who is in good standing.
Confirm the authorizing organization
In the next blank, enter the name of the church or religious organization that authorizes the named person to complete and submit the affidavit.
Read the five-day notification list
Review items 1 through 6, the events that require a written Affidavit of Revocation of Authority to Solemnize Marriages within five (5) days. Signing is a promise to notify the Washoe County Clerk.
Complete the official's signature block
Fill in the official's printed name, title, address, city, state and ZIP code, and telephone number. Sign only before the notary public or deputy clerk.
Have it sworn or affirmed
The notary public or deputy clerk enters the day, month and year, signs and affixes the county seal or notary stamp.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, address and signature block, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it through the Washoe County Clerk's channels described under How to submit.
How to submit Affidavit of Authority - Permanent and Temporary Replacement – Washoe County, NV
The affidavit is addressed to the Washoe County Clerk, and the form names no mailing address, portal or appointment rule of its own. Confirm the current way to deliver it with the Washoe County Clerk, which publishes the form at the official PDF link given on this page.
What the form does require before it is delivered:
- Signature of the official, with printed name, title, address, city, state and ZIP code, and telephone number.
- Jurat completed by a notary public or deputy clerk: the day, month and year, the officer's signature, and the county seal or notary stamp.
For later changes, the form directs you to notify the Washoe County Clerk in writing by submitting an Affidavit of Revocation of Authority to Solemnize Marriages within five (5) days of the listed events. FillingPDF is an independent service that lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Washoe County Clerk's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the affidavit without having it sworn or affirmed before a notary public or deputy clerk; the form includes a jurat with a county seal or notary stamp.
- Leaving out the street address, city or town of the organization's active meetings.
- Mixing up the two name lines: the organization's name goes on the first and third blanks, the minister or official's name on the second.
- Omitting the signer's title, address, city, state and ZIP code, or telephone number from the signature block.
- Not notifying the Washoe County Clerk in writing within five (5) days when the minister is no longer in good standing or leaves the organization.
- Failing to report a change of address or location of the church or religious organization within five (5) days.
- Failing to report that a minister has moved his or her residence from Washoe County or that the organization has been dissolved or terminated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Affidavit of Authority to Solemnize Marriages?
It is a sworn statement in which a church or religious organization tells the Washoe County Clerk that a named minister or other religious official is in good standing and authorized to solemnize marriages. It is signed by an official of the organization and sworn before a notary public or deputy clerk.
Does the affidavit have to be notarized?
The form includes a jurat, "Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me," completed by a notary public or deputy clerk, who affixes the county seal or notary stamp. Do not treat the form as finished until that block is completed.
What is the five-day notice on the affidavit?
The signer promises to notify the Washoe County Clerk in writing, by submitting an Affidavit of Revocation of Authority to Solemnize Marriages, within five (5) days after any of six listed events, such as the minister leaving the organization or the organization changing address.
Who signs the Affidavit of Authority for a church?
An official of the church or religious organization signs, and prints his or her name, title, address and telephone number in the signature block. The form says the person named is authorized by the organization to complete and submit the affidavit.
What happens if the minister moves out of Washoe County?
The form lists it as one of the events requiring written notice to the Washoe County Clerk within five (5) days, using an Affidavit of Revocation of Authority to Solemnize Marriages. A change of the organization's address or location is another listed event.
Can I fill out this affidavit online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the Washoe County Clerk and does not file or notarize the affidavit; you still need a notary public or deputy clerk and must deliver it through the Clerk's channels.
Where do I send the affidavit?
The affidavit is addressed to the Washoe County Clerk, but the form prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule. Ask the Washoe County Clerk for the current way to deliver it; the Clerk publishes the PDF at the official link on this page.
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