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Marriage Laws United States Colorado CO Wedding Officiants

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Marriage license Laws in the state of Colorado, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the Colorado marriage laws before filling out the Colorado marriage license form.

In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. This is the document in your state that allows you to officially tie the knot under the law. The rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state to state, so you should check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.

You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within a few months.

When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.

And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

A marriage license may be issued in any county and used in any county in the State of Colorado. However, the license must be used within 30 days from the date of issue. The license is issued the day it is applied for and may be used immediately.

Fee: Marriage license is $30.00. Cash or Checks Only.

Blood test: Blood tests are not required to obtain a marriage license.

Age Requirements: The legal age without parental consent is 18 years of age. Applicants who are 16 and 17 years of age must have parental consent from both parents. A parent who has sole custody of a minor will be required to sign a statement to this fact. If one or both of the parents cannot appear at the time of applying for the license, an absentee application may be completed and notarized ahead of time. This is to be presented when the marriage license is issued. Applicants 15 years of age or younger, must obtain a court order granting judicial approval as well as complying with the above requirements. The court order must be obtained in the county where judicial approval has been granted.

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Identification: Acceptable forms for proof of age are as follows: Drivers License, Passport, Visa, Birth Certificate, Military ID, or state issued ID Card.

Social Security Number: Must be given when applying for a license. If either party does not have a social security number, they must sign an affidavit when applying for the license.

Application Form: Both male and female applicants must appear in person to complete and sign the marriage application. If one party cannot appear due to illness, is out of state, or incarcerated, he or she must obtain an ABSENTEE APPLICATION from the Clerk and Recorder's office. The party applying must bring the absentee application along with identification for the absent party. Applicants need not be residents of Colorado. ABSENTEE APPLICATIONS MUST BE NOTARIZED.

Previous Marriages: If either party has been divorced or widowed, we need to know the date, County and State. We do not need proof. The couple will be required to swear under oath that all information given is true and correct.

Ceremony: A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination or Indian nation or tribe. As of August 1993, a couple themselves can solemnize their own marriage.

Cousin Marriages: Yes.

Common Law Marriages: Yes. Common Law Marriage - Recognized. See, "Common Law Marriage in Colorado," 16 Colo. Law. 252 (1987); Crandall v. Resley, 804 P.2d 272 (Colo. App. 1990).

Marriage by Proxy: Yes. If a party to a marriage is unable to be present at solemnization, he may authorize in writing a third person to act as his proxy. Sec. 14-2-109(2).

Same Sex Marriages: No.

Officiants: Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (C.R.S 14-2-109).
They must apply for paper work from the County Courthouse in order to do this.
However, friends or relatives can not solemnize their marriage. Out-of-state Clergy
need not be registered in Colorado.

Solemnizing a Marriage: Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (perform one's own marriage ceremony). According to Colorado Revised Statute 14-2-109, a marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court; by a court magistrate; by a retired judge of the court; by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages; by Indian tribe officials; by clergy; by the parties to the marriage. If you wish to solemnize your own marriage, you will be responsible for acquiring, completing and returning the license to marry to the appropriate county Office of the Clerk and Recorder.

Grounds for Annulment: Lack of capacity to consent at time solemnized, under-age (not cured by consent of parents or court), fraud, jest or dare, duress and impotency (unknown to other party at time of marriage), and any prohibited marriage. Sec. 14-10-111. See, "Annulments in Colorado," 22 Colo. Law. 2249 (1993).

Valid: License is valid for thirty (30) days. If either one of you is on probation or parole, you will need special authorization.

It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any wedding or travel plans.

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

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To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com.  Please include the state and county information.

Colorado County Clerk's Office

Adams County Clerk Brighton, CO 303.654.6020	Alamosa County Clerk Alamosa, CO 719.589.6681	Arapahoe County Clerk Littleton, CO 303.795.4520
Archuleta County Clerk Pagosa Springs, CO 970.264.5633	Bent County Clerk Las Animas, CO 719.456.2009	Boulder County Clerk Boulder, CO 303.441.516
Chaffee County Recorder Salida, CO 719.539.4004	Cheyenne County Clerk Cheyenne Wells, CO 719.767.5685	Clear Creek County Clerk Georgetown, CO 303.569.3251
Conejos County Clerk Conejos, CO 719.376.5422	Costilla County Clerk San Luis, CO 719.672.3301	Delta County Clerk Delta, CO 970.874.2150
Denver County Clerk Denver, CO 303.640.2628	Douglas County Clerk Castlerock, CO 303.660.7469	Eagle County Clerk Eagle, CO 970.328.8710
El Paso County Clerk Colorado Spring, CO 719.520.6200	Elbert County Clerk Kiowa, CO 303.621.3129	Fremont County Clerk Canon City, CO 719.275.1522
Garfield County Clerk Glenwood Spring, CO 970.945.2377	Gilpin County Clerk Central City, CO 303.582.5321	Grand County Clerk Hot Sulpher Spring, CO 303.725.3347
Gunnison County Clerk Gunnison, CO 970.641.1516	Huerfano County Clerk Wallsenburg, CO 719.738.2380	Jackson County Clerk Walden, CO 970.723.4334
Jefferson County Clerk Golden, CO 303.271.8168	Kit Carson County Clerk Burlington, CO 719.346.8638	La Plata County Clerk Durango, CO 970.382.6283
Lake County Clerk Leadville, CO 719.486.1410	Larimer County Clerk Ft.Collins, CO 970.498.7860	Las Animas County Trinidad, CO 719.846.3314
Logan County Recorders Sterling, CO 970.522.1544	Mesa County Clerk Grand Junction, CO 970.244.1670	Moffat County Clerk Craig, CO 970.824.5484
Montezuma County Clerk Cortez, CO 970.565.3728	Montrose County Clerk Montrose, CO 970.249.3362	Morgan County Clerk Fort Morgan, CO 970.867.5616
Otero County Clerk La Junta, CO 719.383.3020	Ouray County Clerks Ouray, CO 970.325.4961	Park County Clerk Fairplay, CO 719.836.2771
Phillips County Clerk Holyoke, CO 970.854.3131	Pitkin County Clerk Aspen, CO 970.920.5180	Prowers County Clerk Lamar, CO 719.336.4337
Pueblo County Clerk Pueblo, CO 719.583.6000	Rio Blanco County Meeker, CO 970.878.5068	Rio Grande County Clerk Del Norte, CO 719.657.3334
Routt County Clerk Steamboat Springs, CO 970.879.1710	San Juan County Clerk Silverton, CO 303.387.5671	San Miguel County Clerk Telluride, CO 970.728.3954
Summit County Clerk Breckenridge, CO 970.453.3475	Teller County Clerk Cripple Creek, CO 719.689.2951	Washington County Clerk Akron, CO 970.345.6565
Weld County Clerk Greeley, CO 970.353.3840	Yuma County Clerk Wray, CO 970.332.5809

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