Marriage License Fee Change Senate Bill 68 effective July 1, 2009 will increase the fee for a marriage license to $30. The additional $20 collected will support the Colorado Domestic Abuse Program Fund. Marriage license fees may be paid with cash or credit card. Additional fees apply to credit card transactions. NEW! - Online Marriage Application For your convenience Douglas County Clerk and Recorders office is now taking applications for a marriage license through our new online form. While you may enter your application when convenient for you, please do not come into the offices more than 30 days before your ceremony. Although applicants will still be required to appear, pay for, and provide identification to receive their license, we hope our new online application will streamline and expedite the Marriage Application process.

Douglas County Motor Vehicle Registration Office will issue marriage licenses only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Recording Office will continue to issue licenses between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Application for Marriage License | Age Requirements » | Restrictions » | Witness Requirements » | Ceremonies »| License Fee »

Application for Marriage License

Applicants for a Colorado marriage license need not be Colorado residents. Marriage Licenses are valid for 30 days. Please do not come into the offices more than 30 days before your ceremony.

Both parties must appear in person in the office of the Clerk and Recorder to complete and sign marriage application forms. If you wish to fill out the marriage license application before you come to our office, each applicant may fill out an application and together bring the information to the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder's Office.

REMEMBER, BOTH PARTIES STILL MUST BE PRESENT IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE BEFORE THE LICENSE WILL BE ISSUED.

If either party has been divorced, we require the date of the divorce, the type of court and the city and state where the divorce took place.

Each applicant must bring proof of identity and birth date. All documents must be in English. Any of the following will be accepted:

• Driver's License.
• Birth Certificate.
• Passport.
• Military Identification.

Age Requirements

The requirements for the bride and groom are the same:

• 18 and older - No parental consent is required.
• 16 and 17 - Parental consent is required as follows: Consent of both parents; or the parent having legal custody; or the child's legal guardian; or judicial approval (court order).
• Younger than 16 - Parental consent as listed above AND judicial approval (court order) is required. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Blood Test Requirements

As of July 1, 1989, blood tests are NOT required for either party in the State of Colorado.

Social Security Numbers

Per Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S. 14-14-113), social security numbers are required on the marriage license application. If an applicant does not have a social security number, an affidavit provided by the Clerk's Office must be signed stating that the party does not have a social security number.

Restrictions

Marriage licenses are not issued when one of the parties is still married to another person (all divorces must be final).

Marriage between the following is prohibited:

• Ancestor and descendant.
• Brother and sister.
• Uncle and niece.
• Aunt and nephew, whether the relationship is by half or whole blood.

Marriage between first cousins is permitted in Colorado.

Marriage licenses are issued only to male-female couples.

A marriage license issued by Colorado is valid only for solemnization in Colorado. A marriage license issued by another state is not valid for solemnization in Colorado.

Witness Requirements

Witnesses are not required in the State of Colorado. Some clergy, judges or public officials may request them.

Ceremonies

Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (Colorado Revised Statute 14-2-109). A marriage can also be solemnized by a judge, a retired judge, a magistrate, a public official authorized to perform marriages, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination or Indian nation or tribe. Not anyone can solemnize a marriage. Although the couple may solemnize their own marriage, that does not mean a friend or relative can also solemnize their marriage. Clergy from out-of-state need not be registered in Colorado. For judges in Douglas County who perform marriage ceremonies, please see the Additional Resources below.

Recording the Marriage License

After the original marriage license has been signed by all parties involved, it must be returned to the Castle Rock Recording Office within 60 days after applying. The license will be assigned a recording number for state archives. After this process has been completed the original marriage license will be returned to your home address for you to keep as a permanent record. Never submit your original license to anyone for documentation purposes; you may not get it back.  For circumstances requiring documentation of your marriage license, a certified copy may be obtained from any of the County Clerk's office for $1.25 per copy. This certified copy will have a deputy clerk's signature from the issuing county stating that the copy is a true and correct copy of the original. You may obtain as many certified copies as you wish at any time. When requesting a copy, please include a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to avoid postage and handling charges. If you are unable to include the SASE the following shipping & handling charges will apply: one to six copies $1.00, over six copies will be $4.00.

Licenses

Marriage licenses are issued during normal working hours of Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, Monday through Friday (except for legal holidays), 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Marriage licenses may also be obtained from one of the Douglas County Motor Vehicle Offices between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. A marriage license may also be obtained from any County Clerk and Recorder's Office anywhere within the State of Colorado, please contact other counties as their hours may differ.

• The license fee is $30.00 payable by cash or credit card. Additional fees apply for credit card transactions.
• The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

Locations

Marriage Licenses are also issued from Douglas County Motor Vehicle branches from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in addition to the Recording Office in Castle Rock.