How to Get a Marriage License in Colorado
Congratulations! You’re going to marry the love of your life! Amidst the excitement of your engagement, you realize that there are still a ton of decisions to make… Even if you don’t want a big, elaborate wedding, you still have some planning to do.
Do you want a small, intimate gathering? Do you want to plan an elopement? And, most importantly, how do you get a marriage license in Colorado? Let’s take a look!
Colorado Marriage License Requirements for Applicants
It’s important to know what is required of you and your partner before you apply for a marriage license.
The marriage license laws in Colorado explain that you have to be of a certain age to get married. If both of you are over the age of 18, you have nothing to worry about. Just bring the proper identification and you can apply.
If you (or your partner) are between 16 and 17 years old, you have to have the approval of the juvenile court. The court system has to determine that getting married is in the underage party’s best interest. Marriage of individuals under 16 years old is prohibited in Colorado.
Neither applicant can get a legal marriage to someone if they are already married. You have to get a divorce in order to get married again.
If you are divorced, you will have to provide proof of the divorce including the when, the where, and the how. What day did you get your divorce? Which state did you get your divorce in? What type of court annulled your marriage? You should be able to find all of these things in your divorce decree.
If you are a widow, you will have to provide supporting documentation that proves when and where your previous spouse died before you can marry another person.
Lastly, you can not use an application from another state to get married in Colorado. However, you can use an application from any Colorado county if you return to that specific county to file the paperwork.
Applying for a Marriage License in Colorado
You can apply for a marriage license up to 35 days before your wedding day. Once you have the marriage license in your possession, you can use it. If you wait too long, you will have to reapply.
To get the marriage license, you must go to a Colorado County Clerk and Record Office to get the necessary paperwork. You may have to make an appointment to be seen in the office.
If one applicant cannot be there in person, the other will have to bring a completed Marriage License Absentee Affidavit and a copy of the absent applicant’s identification.
Each in-person applicant must bring a valid form of identification and $30 to cover the marriage license cost. Check with your local county clerk to determine which forms of ID are acceptable and which are not.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Once you have your marriage license in Colorado, you can get married! Planning to elope? I’ve got you covered! Planning a small, intimate gathering? I can help you make that happen too!
Fill out my contact form today for more information. I can’t wait to be a part of your special day!
Check Out Some of My Work!
A Guide to Colorado Engagement Photography
Congratulations—you’ve just asked or said “yes” to one of the most important questions in life, and now it’s time to spread the good news! Engagement photography is a celebration of your love and a chance to show it off, so you’ll want to get it right. If you’re in Colorado and looking into the possibility…
How to Choose a Wedding Photographer
One key step in the wedding planning process is choosing a wedding photographer. Trust me, you’ll be so wrapped up in the moment during your wedding that it will go by in a flash—having a photographer there ensures you’re able to look back on those memories for years to come! So what should you look…
How to Have a Denver Courthouse Wedding
A courthouse wedding can be just as romantic as any other type of marriage celebration—the two of you get to make your love legal and mark the occasion in a way that suits you! Curious about what it’s like to have a courthouse wedding in Denver? As a Colorado-based wedding and elopement photographer, I know…
Summer Elopement at High Point Overlook
S & T drove in from the midwest with their families and doggos for their summer elopement at High Point Overlook in Colorado Spigngs!
What is Self-Solemnization in Colorado?
Colorado is a self-solemnization state, which is important information to know if you’re thinking of getting married here. But what does self-solemnization in Colorado mean and how does it affect your wedding plans? With my years of wedding and elopement photography in Colorado, I thought I’d put together this little resource to answer these questions…
Black Mountain Lodge Wedding at Arapahoe Basin
Black Mountian Lodge Wedding Photos