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Marriage Requirements and Applications
Requirements
You must be 18 years of age or older to marry in Colorado, with the following exceptions:
- You may marry at the age of 16 or 17 with the consent of both parents or of your legal guardian.
- You may marry at the age of 15 or under with the consent of both parents or of your legal guardian, and with judicial approval.
You must present the necessary consent and court order, as applicable, at the time you apply for a marriage license. If you are under the age of 18 and one of your parents or your guardian has sole legal custody, you also must present proof of custody.
If you have been married previously and are widowed or divorced, you must provide:
- the exact date (month, day, and year) of your spouse's death or of your divorce.
If you are divorced you also must provide:
- the location (city and state) of your divorce;
- the type (district, superior, circuit, etc.) of the court in which your divorce proceeding occurred; and
- a certified copy of your divorce decree if your divorce is within 30 days preceding the date you apply for a marriage license.
Please also be prepared to supply the place of birth (city and state) of each of your parents.
Blood tests are not required and there is no waiting period. Applicants need not be Colorado residents.
The following marriages are prohibited:
- A same-sex marriage.
- A marriage entered prior to the dissolution of an earlier marriage of either of the parties, except such earlier marriage being a currently valid marriage between the applicant parties.
- A marriage between an ancestor and descendant, brother and sister, uncle and niece, or aunt and nephew, whether the relationship is by half or whole blood. However, marriage between first cousins, whether the relationship is by half or whole blood, is permitted in Colorado.
Application
To apply for a marriage license, both you and your intended spouse must appear in person at the Marriage Licenses counter at our offices on the First Floor of the Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.
Hours of operation are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Closed municipal holidays.
You and your intended spouse each must present one of these valid forms of identification:
- U.S. driver's license or permit
- U.S. state-issued ID
- U.S. military ID
- Passport (with certified English-language translation if non-English)
Important: These forms of identification are not acceptable for marriage license applications:
- Birth certificate
- Baptismal certificate
- Mexican Consular ID (“Matricula Consular”)
Absentee Application
If either you or your intended spouse cannot appear in person, the absent party must complete an absentee application which must be notarized. The party appearing in person (same days and hours as above) must present on the behalf of the absent intended spouse —
- the completed and notarized absentee application; and
- a clear and legible photocopy of the ID (one of the valid forms of identification listed above) of the absent intended spouse, fax copies not acceptable.
The absentee applicant's legal name as stated in the notarized absentee application must match exactly the absentee applicant's name as shown by the ID photocopy.
Fees
The marriage license application fee is $30.00—cash only. Checks and credit cards are not accepted. Certified copies of marriage licenses are available upon request, $1.25. See also Recordings Archives.
Marriage License Validity
The marriage license may be used immediately upon issuance and is valid only for 30 days after issuance. It may be used anywhere in Colorado.
Solemnization
Your marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court, a retired judge, a court magistrate, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, a Native-American tribe official, clergy, or you and your intended spouse. Clergy from out-of-state do not need to be registered in Colorado. See also Ceremonies and Officials.
If you or your intended spouse is unable be present at the solemnization, the absent party may authorize a third person to act as proxy.
The solemnizing official, or you and your spouse in case of self-solemnization, will complete your marriage certificate, attesting that your marriage solemnization has been performed lawfully. (Note: The marriage license and marriage certificate are two distinct instruments that appear on the single form.)
Recording
After solemnization you must return your marriage license and completed marriage certificate to us within 60 days for recording. Do not separate the certificate from the license. You may use the return envelope given to you at the time of application or return the certificate in person. Recording enters your marriage license and certificate upon our records for future reference (see Recordings Archives). The original form thereafter will be returned to you at the return address supplied at the time of application.
Contact
For further information regarding marriage requirements and applications, contact:
Email: marriages@denvergov.org or call 311, outside of area, 720.913.1311.
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