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Recording Division~  Marriage

Obtaining A Marriage License | Requirements After the Marriage |
Judges & Magistrates Who Perform Ceremonies

Obtaining A Marriage License

APPLICATION

Both the Bride and the Groom must complete and sign the license application form. At least one of the parties must apply in person and bring an absentee affidavit for the other party, along with a copy of the ID showing proof of age of the absent party.  If one of the parties cannot appear in person, he or she must complete an absentee affidavit and sign it before a notary public before it can be accepted by the marriage clerk. A copy of the ID showing proof of age of the absent party must also be presented with the affidavit to the marriage clerk.  Applicants for a marriage license need not be Colorado residents. 
Click here for an absentee application (PDF)

If either party has been married previously, we will require the date, place and type of court if divorced. Those who have been widowed will need to supply the date and place of death of their deceased spouse.

A marriage license may be obtained in any county in Colorado and used within the state.  A couple does not have to apply for a license in the county where the ceremony will take place nor in the county where they reside.

RESTRICTIONS

Marriages are prohibited when one of the parties is still married to another person. They are also prohibited between ancestor and descendant, brother and sister, uncle and niece, aunt and nephew.

LICENSE

The license may be issued only during normal working hours of the office of the County Clerk and Recorder, Monday - Friday (except for legal holidays), 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Applicants must be in the office by 4:15 PM to allow time for issuance of the license.

The license is valid for 31 days--including the date of issue--anywhere in the State of Colorado.

The Recording Division Office is located at 1750 33rd Street, Suite 201 in Boulder.  Marriage licenses are also issued in our branch offices in Longmont, 529 Coffman Street, 303-413-7776; and Louisville, 722 Main Street, 303-413-7776.

The license fee is $10.00.

For further information about obtaining a marriage license, call our 24-hour line at 303-413-7776.

AGE

The age requirements for both the Bride and Groom are the same - for ages 18 and older, no parental consent is required. For marriages at ages of 16 and 17, consent of both parents (or parent having legal custody), or guardian, or judicial approval is required.

Each applicant must bring proof of identity and birth date, such as a current US driver's license or a current passport.

BLOOD TEST

Blood tests are NOT required for either the male or female applicant.

CEREMONY - Who can perform a marriage ceremony in Colorado

A marriage may be performed by a judge, court magistrate, the parties to the marriage (bride & groom), or other public official authorized to perform marriages or in accordance with any mode or solemnization recognized by a religious denomination or Indian tribe or nation.  Parties to the marriage are the bride and groom.  If the parties to the marriage choose to perform their own ceremony, they must fill out the lower portion of the license completely and sign as both bride and groom and as parties to the marriage.  The type of ceremony and words exchanged (if any) are their choice.

If you need to arrange civil ceremony by a judge or magistrate, a current listing of the judges and magistrates and their telephone numbers is available:
Judges and Magistrates Who Perform Marriage Ceremonies