How to Get a Colorado Marriage License (And the One Mistake That Means Doing It Twice)

Mar 1

A Colorado marriage license costs $30, takes about 20 minutes to get, and has no waiting period. You can walk out of the county clerk's office and get married that afternoon if you want.

Most couples make it more complicated than it needs to be. Here's what the process actually looks like.

At a Glance


Cost	$30 (cash or card)
Waiting period	None
Valid for	35 days from issuance
File after ceremony	Within 63 days
Residency required?	No
Blood test required?	No
Minimum age	18 (16–17 requires court order)
Where to get it	County Clerk & Recorder in any Colorado county

The Process

Start online, finish in person

Every county requires an online application before your visit — it pre-fills the paperwork but doesn't issue anything. You still need to show up in person to get the physical license. Find your county's Clerk & Recorder and look for the marriage license section:

The online application covers full legal names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and marital history. Budget 10 minutes.

What to bring

Both partners need a valid photo ID — driver's license, passport, military ID, or state-issued ID. Your name on the license will appear exactly as it does on your ID, so if you're planning to change your name after the wedding, double-check which name you want on it before you go.

You'll also need your Social Security number. If you don't have one (some international couples don't), bring a notarized affidavit instead.

If either of you has been married before: bring a divorce decree or death certificate. The clerk will ask for the exact date and location of your divorce or your spouse's death — "a few years ago in Denver" isn't going to work.

Showing up

Both partners need to appear together. Colorado residents have the option of a video appointment where you both appear on the same screen simultaneously. Out-of-state couples have to go in person.

If one of you genuinely can't be there — travel, illness, not just scheduling conflicts — some counties will accept a notarized Absentee Affidavit for one partner. Call your county clerk before assuming that's an option.

Walk-in vs. appointment: El Paso County allows walk-ins Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm. Denver requires a scheduled appointment. Boulder varies by day. Check before you drive over.

The whole thing takes about 20 minutes once you're at the counter. You pay $30, they hand you the license, and you're legally cleared to get married anywhere in the state. The license is valid statewide — no need to get married in the same county where you applied.

The Part Most Couples Get Wrong

The license is valid for 35 days from the date it's issued. Not from your wedding date — from when you pick it up.

This catches people off guard constantly. They apply early because they're organized, the license expires before the wedding, and now they're making a second trip to the clerk's office two weeks before the ceremony. Get your license 2–4 weeks before your wedding date and you won't have to think about it again.

A few other things worth knowing about timing:

Clerk offices are weekday-only. If your wedding is Saturday, you're going Monday through Friday.
May through October is peak wedding season in Colorado. Some county offices fill their appointment slots weeks out — don't wait until the week before.
Offices close on state and federal holidays. Check before you go.

After the ceremony, your officiant signs the license and returns it to the county clerk within 63 days. The clerk records it and sends you a certified copy — which is what you'll need for a name change with the Social Security Administration, your bank, and the Colorado DMV.

If You're Not Colorado Residents

Colorado has no residency requirement for a marriage license. Couples come from out of state, get their license, get married in the mountains, and fly home with a valid Colorado marriage certificate. It's common, especially for destination elopements.

The one difference: video appointments are generally available to Colorado residents only. Out-of-state couples go in person.

Who Signs the License After the Ceremony

Someone has to sign the completed license — that's the person legally solemnizing your marriage. In Colorado, the list of who qualifies is broader than most people expect: ordained ministers (including online ordinations through AMM and similar organizations), judges, magistrates, and certain public officials all count.

The full breakdown of who can legally officiate in Colorado, and what the law actually says about online ordinations: Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Colorado?

Self-Solemnization: Marrying Yourselves

Colorado is one of nine states where you can legally marry yourselves — no officiant, no witnesses required. You sign the license as your own officiant. The license process is the same either way; what changes is who signs it after the ceremony.

If that's what you're planning: Self-Solemnization in Colorado: The Complete Guide covers the full process.

County Quick Reference

County	Appointment?	Walk-In Hours	Apply Online
Boulder	Varies	Check site	Yes
Denver	Yes	N/A	Yes
El Paso (Colorado Springs)	No	Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm	Yes
Adams	Varies	Check site	Kiosk
Jefferson	Recommended	Check site	Yes
Larimer (Fort Collins)	Yes	N/A	Yes

For any county not listed: search "[County name] Colorado Clerk and Recorder marriage license." The process is the same everywhere — the logistics just vary slightly.

After the Ceremony

Your officiant handles returning the signed license to the clerk — that's a standard part of the job, not something you need to track. If you want to understand what else happens between "I do" and the certificate arriving in the mail: What to Expect When You Hire a Wedding Officiant walks through the whole process.

If you self-solemnized, returning the license is on you. Don't let it sit in a drawer. The certified copy you get back is the document that actually matters for name changes, joint accounts, and anything else where the government needs proof you're married.

The license is the easy part. Thirty dollars, a weekday afternoon, and you're done. The ceremony takes more thought — and that's where most couples wish they'd spent more time planning.

Jane has officiated over 700 weddings across Colorado, from backyard ceremonies in Boulder to elopements at 12,000 feet. If you're figuring out what kind of ceremony fits you — or whether you even need an officiant — a free consultation is the place to start.

If you're still earlier in the process: How to Choose a Wedding Officiant in Colorado.

Jane's Personalized Weddings has officiated ceremonies across Colorado since 2015 — elopements, interfaith ceremonies, vow renewals, and everything in between. Ceremony packages →

Samuel McCulloch