How Marriage Licenses Work Across Colorado's 64 Counties

Getting married in Colorado starts at a county clerk and recorder's office. There is no single state counter where couples apply. Each of the state's 64 counties runs its own marriage license desk, and our directory lists 66 offices, from busy Front Range cities to small plains towns such as Akron and Burlington. State law sets the core rules, so the process looks similar everywhere. Hours, appointment policies, and ceremony options still differ from one courthouse to the next.

The governing law is found in the Colorado Revised Statutes, in the title that covers domestic matters. Clerks follow it, but the clerk does not decide who may marry. Their job is to check identity, record the application, issue the license, and later record the completed certificate. Knowing that division of labor saves time. Questions about your own eligibility belong with the clerk. Questions about the ceremony belong with you and your officiant, if you choose to have one.

Who Issues Licenses: County Clerk and Recorders

In every Colorado county, the elected clerk and recorder is responsible for marriage licenses. The same office usually handles deeds, vehicle titles, and elections, so the marriage counter may share space with other services. Our listings are labeled by county, for example Adams County Marriage License or Fremont County Marriage License, and they point to that clerk's public counter.

Two jurisdictions work a little differently. Denver is a consolidated city and county, so its marriage licenses come from the Denver Clerk and Recorder at 201 West Colfax Avenue. Broomfield is also a consolidated city and county, with its office at 1 Descombes Drive. Our database groups Broomfield with Boulder County for mapping purposes, but couples should treat it as its own jurisdiction with its own phone number, 303-464-5819.

Front Range and metro counties

The Front Range corridor holds most of the state's population and the heaviest license volume. El Paso County is the largest cluster in our data. Its listings center on Colorado Springs, and the main one sits at North Union Town Center, 8830 N. Union Blvd, reachable at 719-520-6200. Boulder County issues from 1750 33rd Street in Boulder, phone 303-413-7770. Adams County's office is at 4430 South Adams County Parkway in Brighton, phone 720-523-6020. Douglas County is at 301 Wilcox Street in Castle Rock, phone 303-660-7469.

Metro offices tend to be busier on Fridays and in the weeks before popular wedding dates. Many offer online application steps or appointment slots, but policies change. Check the county's current process before you drive. A short phone call often saves a wasted trip.

Mountain and resort counties

Colorado's mountain counties see a lot of destination couples. Pitkin County serves Aspen from 530 East Main Street, phone 970-920-5200. Summit County serves the Breckenridge area from the clerk's office at 208 Lincoln Avenue, phone 970-453-2561. Eagle County issues from 500 Broadway Street in the town of Eagle, phone 970-328-8723. La Plata County is at 98 Everett Street in Durango, phone 970-382-6280.

Because a Colorado license is valid statewide, a couple marrying in a mountain town does not have to apply in that town. They can apply in a county that is easier to reach. Still, many couples like to pick up the license locally, particularly when they are already in the area for the wedding week. Winter road conditions on mountain passes are a good reason to leave extra time.

Eastern plains and rural counties

Out on the eastern plains and in the southwest, offices are small and the pace is slower. Washington County issues from 150 Ash in Akron, phone 303-345-6565. Kit Carson County lists a Burlington mailing address, phone 719-346-8638. Cheyenne County is at 51 South 1st Street East in Cheyenne Wells, phone 719-767-5685. Kiowa County is at 1305 Goff in Eads, phone 719-438-5421.

Dolores County is one of the state's least populated counties, and its listing is at 409 North Main Street in Dove Creek, phone 970-677-2381. In places like this, the clerk's staff may be small and hours may be limited. Calling ahead is not a courtesy here. It is how you confirm someone will be at the counter when you arrive.

What to Bring to a Colorado Clerk's Counter

Requirements are fairly consistent statewide, though each clerk publishes its own checklist. Plan on the following:

Bring original documents, not photos on your phone, unless the clerk has told you otherwise. If a name has changed through a prior marriage or court order, bring matching paperwork so staff can enter your names correctly.

Colorado Rules That Set the State Apart

Colorado is more flexible than many states in a few specific ways. There is no residency requirement, so out-of-state couples can apply. There is no blood test. Colorado also has no mandatory waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony, which is why many couples apply the same week they marry.

The state also allows self-solemnization. That means a couple can marry each other without an officiant or witnesses, then complete and return the license. Many couples still choose a judge, minister, or friend who is authorized to officiate, but it is not required by state law. Colorado also recognizes common-law marriage, which does not involve a license at all. That topic is separate from this directory, which covers licensed marriages issued by clerks.

Two deadlines matter most. A Colorado license is valid for 35 days after it is issued, so do not apply months in advance. After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the clerk for recording within 63 days. Missing that window creates avoidable delays, so mark it on your calendar the day you marry.

Use the county pages linked above to compare offices, then call the one you plan to visit. Confirm hours, fees, and whether you need an appointment. Those three answers prevent most problems.

Marriage licenses in Colorado are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 63 cities across Colorado. They are spread across 60 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Colorado Springs, Alamosa, Las Animas, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Colorado should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Colorado should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Colorado to find the nearest location.

Planning Around Colorado Geography and Seasons

Distance and weather shape marriage license plans in Colorado more than most couples expect. The state spans high mountains, wide plains, and desert canyons. A drive from Denver to Cortez, where Montezuma County issues licenses at 140 West Main Street, or to Craig in Moffat County, can take most of a day. Mountain passes can close in winter, and summer brings heavy wedding traffic to resort towns.

Because any Colorado county can issue a license that is valid anywhere in the state, you have choices. Apply near where you live or work, then carry the license to the ceremony site. Or apply in the county where you will marry, if you will be there a day or two ahead. Small county offices such as Mineral County in Creede or Gilpin County in Central may close for lunch or have limited public hours, so always call first.

Our database also lists Park County in Fairplay, Delta County in Delta, Rio Grande County in Del Norte, and Teller County in Cripple Creek. Teller County sits next to El Paso County but is a separate jurisdiction with its own clerk, phone 719-633-5853, even though our listing data groups it with El Paso. Use the phone numbers in each listing to verify details before you go.

Marriage License Questions Colorado Couples Ask

Yes. A license issued by any Colorado county clerk and recorder is valid anywhere in the state. You could apply in Denver, for example, and marry in Aspen, Durango, or Colorado Springs. This helps couples who live in the metro area but plan a mountain ceremony. It also helps if the wedding county has limited office hours. Just keep the license safe, and remember that it must be used within its validity period. When the ceremony is done, return it to the clerk, usually the office that issued it, so the marriage can be recorded.

A Colorado license is valid for 35 days from the date it is issued. If the ceremony does not happen in that window, the license expires and you must apply again. After the wedding, the completed license has to be returned to a county clerk for recording within 63 days of the ceremony. Do not wait until the last week. Once the clerk records it, you can order certified copies, which you will need for name changes with the Social Security Administration, the DMV, banks, and employers.

Not necessarily. Colorado allows self-solemnization, so two people can marry each other without an officiant. They sign the license themselves and return it to the clerk for recording. Many couples still hire a minister, judge, or friend who is authorized to officiate, because it makes the ceremony more traditional. If you plan to self-solemnize, tell the clerk when you apply, since the form asks how the marriage will be performed. Confirm any county-specific instructions on the paperwork before the wedding day.

No. Colorado does not require residency, so visiting couples can apply. It also has no blood test requirement and no mandatory waiting period after the license is issued. That is why couples often apply in Breckenridge, Aspen, or Eagle the same week they marry. The practical limit is time at the counter. Ask whether the office needs an appointment, and bring valid photo ID for both applicants. Out-of-state or international couples should also confirm which identification the clerk accepts, since documents differ for non-U.S. citizens.

Call first. Offices in places like Dove Creek (Dolores County, 970-677-2381), Eads (Kiowa County, 719-438-5421), and Cheyenne Wells (Cheyenne County, 719-767-5685) serve small populations with small staffs. Hours may be limited, and the person who handles marriage licenses may also manage other records. Some listings, such as Kit Carson County in Burlington, show a mailing address, so ask for the street location of the counter. Bring your ID and payment, and ask what forms of payment are accepted before you travel.

They are structured differently. Denver and Broomfield are each a combined city and county, so a single local government handles services that elsewhere are split. For marriage licenses, you deal with the clerk and recorder for that jurisdiction. Denver's office is at 201 West Colfax Avenue, phone 720-865-8400. Broomfield's is at 1 Descombes Drive, phone 303-464-5819. The license you receive from either office is valid across Colorado, like any other, so you can use it for a ceremony in a different county.