Marriages and Civil Unions

• You may marry in front of a judge, through a religious ceremony, or by self-solemnizing (signing the certificate yourselves). 
• The certificate must be signed in Colorado within 35 days from the date the license was issued.
• The completed marriage certificate (and attached license) must be returned to the Clerk and Recorder for recording within 63 days after solemnization. After that date,  late fees will apply.
• Blood tests are not required in Colorado, and there is no waiting period.
• Applicants need not be Colorado residents. However, couples obtaining a marriage license online must have a Colorado address to receive their application and license via mail.
• Paw prints are not allowed on marriage licenses. 
  
  

Questions you will be asked:

• The date that you are getting married
• Where you are marrying (license only valid in Colorado) 
• The exact date and location of your divorce or previous spouse's death, if applicable. Both parties must be able to provide this information. If you were previously in a civil union and are marrying someone else, you must provide the name of your partner in the civil union.
• Your relationship if related by blood
• The city and state where parents of both parties were born
  
  

Both you and your intended spouse must present one of these valid forms of identification:

• U.S. state-issued driver's license or permit
• U.S. state-issued ID
• U.S. military ID
• Passport that includes the English language, or passport with a certified English language translation

The name on the license will appear exactly as it is on the identification provided to us.

You are required to provide a Social Security Number if you have one. If one of the parties does not have a Social Security Number, they are not required to have one to get married.

Birth certificates, baptismal certificates and Foreign Consular IDs are not acceptable forms of identification for marriage or civil union licenses. A birth certificate may be used to confirm date of birth when presented along with one of the valid forms of identification listed above. 

Payment is accepted in cash, check or debit/credit card (MasterCard, Visa or Discover). Couples utilizing online appointments must use a debit/credit card.

Make checks payable to: Manager of Finance

We do not accept temporary checks, and we cannot accept credit card information over the phone.

Marriage & Civil Union Licensing

• Marriage or Civil Union license: $30
• Committed Partnership license: $25
• License or Application copy: $0.25
• License or Application certified copy: $1.25
  
  

Recording

• Within 63 days: free
• After 63 days (late fee): $20
• Each additional day after 63 (up to $50): $5
  
  

Certified Copies

• First page $1.25
• Each additional page $0.25

Marriage Licenses

• Online Marriage Application - Save time by applying for your marriage license online. Fill out the form, print the confirmation page and bring it with you to your appointment.
• Marriage License Requirements(PDF, 257KB) - You must provide this information in order to apply for a marriage license. A birth certificate may be used only to confirm date of birth when presented with one of the valid forms of identification. 
• Marriage License Absentee Affidavit(PDF, 129KB) - For a partner who cannot apply for a marriage license in person. This form must be notarized and used within 30 days from the date it was notarized.
• Power of Attorney for Marriage Ceremony(PDF, 121KB) - For an intended spouse who cannot attend the ceremony in person. This form must be notarized. 
• Affidavit to Accompany Marriage License(PDF, 310KB) - This form must accompany your application if you do not have a U.S. Social Security number.
• Requisitos antes de obtener su aplicación para matrimonio(PDF, 253KB)  - se deben repasar y estar seguros que están listos para obtener su aplicación
  
  

Civil Unions

• Online Civil Union License Application - Save time by filling out your civil union license application form online. Fill out the form, print the confirmation page and bring it with you to your appointment.
• Civil Union License Requirements(PDF, 223KB)- You must provide this information in order to apply for a civil union license. A birth certificate may be used only to confirm date of birth when presented with one of the valid forms of identification..
• Civil Union License Absentee Affidavit(PDF, 133KB)  - This form is for an intended partner who cannot apply for a civil union license in person. This form must be notarized. 
• No Social Security Number Affidavit(PDF, 109KB) - This form must accompany a civil union application if applicant does not have a U.S. Social Security number.
• Requisitos para Licencia de Unión Civil (PDF, 223KB)- Este documento contiene toda la información requerida para obtener la licencia de unión civil. Imprima por favor una copia, utilícela como lista de verificación y tráigala con usted a la oficina de la Secretaria y Registradora.
  
  

Committed Partnerships

• Committed Partnership requirements sheet(PDF, 114KB)
• Sample of Committed Partnership Certificate
• Committed Partnership Ordinance
  
  

Designated Beneficiaries

• Designated Beneficiary Form(PDF, 178KB)
• Revocation of Designated Beneficiary Form(PDF, 173KB)

Solemnization by an Officiant

Your marriage must be solemnized, then the marriage application and certificate must be recorded.

A marriage may be solemnized by an officiant who has been ordained or recognized by a religious denomination, a judge of a court, a retired judge, a court magistrate, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, a Native American tribal official or a friend or relative who is ordained.

Clergy ordained out of state do not need to be registered in Colorado to perform a wedding. 

Denver County Court maintains a list of judges(PDF, 167KB) who perform weddings during the week, on weekends, and in the evenings.

The solemnizing official will complete your marriage certificate.

Self-Solemnization

You and your intended spouse may solemnize your own marriage. Neither witnesses nor officiant are required for a valid self-solemnization. Proxy marriages may not be self solemnized.

Other Important Information

The marriage license and marriage certificate are two distinct instruments that appear on the single form. Please do not separate them. The marriage certificate must be recorded no later than 63 days from the date of solemnization, or late fees will apply.

Use our instruction sheet as a guide for completing the marriage certificate: 
Marriage Certificate Instructions(PDF, 500KB) 
(en español(PDF, 475KB)) 

If you are widowed, divorced, or your civil union has been dissolved, and you wish to apply for a new marriage license, you must provide the exact date (month, day and year) and location of your divorce or spouse's/partner's death. If you were in a civil union with another person, you must have dissolved that civil union to marry a different person. You will need to provide the name of your previous partner on the marriage application.

If you are divorced, you also must provide:

• the location (city and state) of your divorce;
• the type (district, superior, circuit, etc.) of court in which your divorce proceeding occurred; and
• a certified copy of your divorce decree if your divorce was final within 30 days preceding the date you apply for a marriage license.
• A certified verification of your divorce can be obtained at the Office of Vital Record or the Denver District Court.
  
  

Note: If you obtained a civil union license and wish to be married, you must apply for a marriage license, complete the process, and pay the $30 license fee. The civil union does not need to be dissolved if you are marrying the same person. If you wish to marry a different person, the civil union must first be dissolved before the marriage can take place. 

The Office of the Clerk and Recorder does not process dissolutions of marriages or civil unions and does not keep records of these events. Contact the Denver District Court for information about divorces.

For information about dissolutions of committed partnerships, see our Frequently Asked Questions. 

Denver marriage records are available on our county database. Refer to these instructions for finding records. Marriage records are kept only by the county that issued the license. 

To obtain certified copies of marriage licenses or other recorded documents, use our self-service Online Records Search and follow the prompts to make a certified copy request.

Certified copies of documents are $1 per document, plus $0.25 per page.