Colorado Marriage Records

Colorado does not maintain a centralized statewide collection of marriage records. Unlike most states, Colorado marriage records are held at the county level, where the marriage license was issued and where the marriage was solemnized. However, counties in Colorado have been recording marriages since the mid-1800s, with some counties having records dating back to 1861, the year Colorado Territory was established.

Marriage records are vital and legal documents that provide proof of a union between two individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Colorado has a more active marriage rate of over 20% above the national average. The marriage rate in Colorado stands at 7.8 marriages per 1,000 residents against the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people. Colorado distinguishes between two types of marriage records, including:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is a legal document that authorizes two people to get married. Marriage licenses obtained before the wedding ensure that the couple meets all the legal requirements to get married in the state. Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk and Recorder's Office in Colorado and usually contain information like the full legal name of the couple, gender, residential address, date and place of birth, issued date, and license expiry date.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is the official document proving a legal marriage has taken place. After the ceremony, the officiant completes and returns the certificate to the issuing county. The County Clerk and Recorder's Office issues certified copies of the marriage certificate to the couple. Certified copies of marriage records typically include the county where the marriage occurred, location of the ceremony, date of marriage, signature of the spouses and officiant, and legal seal of the issuing office.

Beyond marriage licenses and certificates, marriage records may also be certified copies or informational copies. Certified copies are the exact reproduction of the original marriage certificate, bearing the County Clerk's official seal and signature. Informational copies are plain photocopies of the original license. It is not valid to establish legal identity.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Colorado?

You may obtain legal proof of a marriage record by requesting a certified copy from the County Clerk and Recorder's Office in the county where you applied for the license. Visit the county to obtain the Marriage certificate request form or download it from their website. Fill out the form and gather the required documents. Each county has different requirements for obtaining a marriage record.

Generally, most counties require record seekers to include the full names of both parties, marriage date, a valid government-issued photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope if ordering by mail, and the fees. However, some counties require you to include proof of relationship if you are not one of the parties named on the marriage record. Submit your request by mail or in person. Some counties offer online requests for certified marriage records.

Are Marriage Records Public in Colorado?

Colorado treats marriage records as vital statistics, which by law are confidential. Under Colorado law, all vital statistical records, including marriage records, are not considered public records, and the state may only provide certified copies to applicants having a direct and tangible interest in the record.

Typically, only the couple named on the marriage certificate, immediate family members, such as parents, siblings, and children, legal representatives, persons with a court order, and certain government agencies may receive a certified copy of a marriage record.

Unlike states that make marriage records public after a predetermined number of years, Colorado does not automatically release marriage records to the public after a set period.

How Much Do Colorado Marriage Records Cost?

Marriage records in Colorado are maintained at the county level. The fees and processing times are similar across counties, with very slight variations in a few counties. Generally, expect to pay up to $1.25 per certified copy. Additional copies are charged at the same rate as the certified copy across most counties.

Mail requests for certified marriage records are typically processed within 2 - 6 weeks, depending on the county. Although there are no expedited services for mail requesters, if you need your record faster, most County Clerk and Recorder Offices will issue certified copies of marriage records on the spot if you visit in person. There is no extra fee when you process the record in person.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Colorado?

No. Colorado does not provide a mechanism to make marriage records confidential. Confidential marriage records allow couples to keep their marriage details private from everyone, even from public indexes. Under Colorado law, marriages are closed to the public. However, the records are accessible to specific individuals aside from the couple.

Similarly, Colorado has no statutory process for sealing marriage records after they are filed. Once recorded, they remain publicly accessible by qualified persons and cannot be sealed under any circumstances.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Colorado Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of Colorado marriage records may be important for many life events. From tracing ancestors, claiming tax benefits and insurance, settling an estate, changing your name on records, and ending a marital union, authenticating your marriage records is essential to verify your marriage to ensure the record is legally valid.

To this end, you may verify the authenticity of your marriage record at the County Clerk and Recorder's office, where your license was issued. A certified marriage record is a printed document that contains an embossed or raised seal of the Clerk and Recorder's Office, the signature of the county clerk, a unique identifier assigned when the record was filed, the filing date, and a certification statement. Certified marriage records are printed on high-quality security paper to prevent anyone from tampering with or altering them.

Can I Find Colorado Marriage Records Online for Free?

Colorado marriage records are not publicly accessible under state law, and certified copies are only available to qualified persons. However, there are free non-governmental resources you may use to locate and view old and new Colorado marriage records online.

FamilySearch.org offers free access to indexes and some digital images of the original records. You may access Colorado's marriage indexes from 1852 - 2006 and Colorado county marriages from 1863 - 2018 for free from the platform.

TheColorado State Archiveshas digitized early records of marriage licenses and certificates from 1903 onwards. There is no fee to access the record. The documents may be downloaded or viewed online.

PublicRecords.us is a privately run directory that compiles public records from various public records databases. It offers free access to public records resources nationwide, including Colorado marriage records. The platform is ideal for your initial research of marriage records in the state.

What Is Required to Get a Colorado Marriage License?

Before a couple gets married in Colorado, the state requires that they submit appropriate documents and meet certain requirements, including:

• Both parties must be 18 years and older. Persons between 16 and 17 need a court order to get married
• Both parties must be present at the courthouse. If one party cannot be present, the absent party may submit a notarized marriage license absentee affidavit
• The divorce or death date if either party was previously married
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

While marriage license fees may vary slightly in a few counties, virtually all counties charge $30 per marriage license. Colorado has a zero waiting period. You may apply for your license and get married on the same day. However, the license once issued is valid for 35 days only. If the marriage is not consummated before the deadline, the license expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Colorado?

In Colorado, marriage licenses and certificates may be corrected if there are errors on the document. Common correctable errors include:

• Typographical errors: Misspelled names, incorrect date of birth, or Social Security number
• Inaccuracies in personal information: Such as birthplace or parents' names
• Transposed digits: Transposed figures in dates
• Omitted information: Including missing signatures or officiant details

While these errors are easily correctable. Substantial errors that may alter the marriage record, such as changing the legal name on a marriage record or alterations to relationship status, are not permissible without a court order.

Amending the Colorado Marriage License

To correct an error on a Colorado marriage license before the wedding ceremony, the process involves contacting the County Clerk or Recorder of Deeds office that issued the license. Many counties allow in-person corrections without an appointment. Submit proof of the error, such as a valid ID or birth certificate, to verify the correct information. The Clerk will issue you a new marriage license. Counties generally waive any extra charge for corrections made before the wedding ceremony.

Amending the Colorado Marriage Certificate

You may correct clerical and factual errors identified after the license has been filed and the certificate issued. Usually, the process involves reaching out to the county where the marriage was recorded. To commence the process, download and complete the amendment form from the county's website at their office.

Generally, most counties require an affidavit explaining the error and providing the accurate information. Attach supporting documents, such as a copy of a valid government-issued ID. Significant corrections, such as a legal name change, require a court order.

Generally, the procedure varies slightly by county. Some counties permit remote applications for amending marriage records, while others accept walk-in or mailed submissions. The fees to amend marriage records in Colorado range from $10 to $30, depending on the county. The fee does not include the cost of obtaining certified copies of the corrected marriage record.