What Are Colorado Marriage Records?

Colorado marriage records cover the overall details of marriages conducted within the state. These records have been maintained since 1890. They are preserved by various authorities and are issued upon request of eligible individuals.

The state's marriage records primarily include marriage licenses and marriage certificates.

A marriage license, required under Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Section 14-2-105, grants legal permission for couples to marry. Following the ceremony, a marriage certificate is issued to confirm the couple's union officially. These records provide details such as the full names of both spouses, the marriage date and location, the officiating authority, and witnesses.

Marriage records serve both public and governmental purposes. They are vital for personal matters such as applying for joint loans, insurance benefits, or Social Security purposes. These documents also support administrative functions like identity verification, population studies, etc.

Are Marriage Certificates Public Record in Colorado?

As outlined in CRS Section 25-2-117, vital records, which include marriage certificates, are considered confidential. These documents are closed to the general public, and access is restricted to selected individuals.

Eligible parties who can request Colorado marriage certificates include the individuals named on the records and their immediate family members, including parents, children, and siblings. Attorneys or authorized agents may also access these records as long as they demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the said documents.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Colorado?

Colorado residents can look up marriage records through various government entities based on the time frame of the marriage ceremony and the type of marriage record required.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is the state's central repository for vital records. It is the primary resource for marriage certificates, civil unions, and divorce records. The Colorado State Archives, on the other hand, helps access historical marriage records dating from 1890 to 1939.

For marriages occurring after 1960, the clerk or recorder of the county where the marriage occurred is responsible for maintaining records.

Since diverse agencies manage marriage records in Colorado, individuals should anticipate varying procedures when looking up a record. To simplify the search process, it is advisable to gather the following information beforehand:

• Full names of both parties at the time of marriage
• Date of the marriage or a date range
• County where the marriage license was issued if known
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of relationship or legal interest in the record, if applicable
• Payment of fees

How To Search Marriage Certificates?

Colorado marriage certificates come in two forms: certified copy and informational copy.

Certified marriage certificates are official copies that can be used for legal purposes, such as name changes or applying for benefits. On the other hand, informational marriage certificates are not considered legal and can only be used for personal records without certification.

To obtain a marriage certificate in Colorado, individuals can follow one of the options below:

Online

• Go to the CDPHE online ordering page and select VitalChek to get directed to its website.
• Once on the VitalChek website, select "marriage certificate" from the order certificate options to start ordering.
• Fill out the order form by providing details like location and date of marriage, the name of spouses, reason for the request, etc.
• If required, verify identity by submitting a valid government-issued ID.
• Pay the required fee, including processing and shipping fees, using a major credit card.
• Once paid, wait for the request to be processed.

If the marriage occurred between 1890 and 1939, the Colorado State Archive's Archive Search database can be utilized. Individuals can search this index by entering the spouse's name, marriage license number, date of marriage, and marriage location.

In Person

• Identify the county where the marriage was recorded and visit its respective clerk's office in person.
• Fill out a request form, which typically requires the following information:
  • Full names of the individuals involved in the marriage
  • Date of the marriage
  • Location of the marriage
• Submit a valid identification document if needed
• Pay the fee, which varies per county
• Wait for processing. Depending on the county, the certificate can be received immediately or may take a few days to process.

By Mail

• Download the Application for Certified Verification of a Marriage Record/Civil Union Form if requested from the CDPHE or the county clerk's respective form.
• Fill out the request form by furnishing the details below:
  • Full names of individuals involved in the marriage
  • County where the license was issued
  • Date of marriage
  • Purpose of the request
  • Requester's proof of relationship to the individual named in the record (if applicable)
  • Requester's shipping information
• Pay the applicable fee using a credit card, money order, or check. This amount differs per county, but for CDPHE, $17 is charged for the first certified copy, with additional charges for extra copies and preferred delivery method.
• Send the completed form and payment to the address listed on the CDPHE form or to the mailing address of the county clerk's office maintaining the record.

How To Search Marriage Licenses?

Marriage licenses in Colorado are maintained at the county level, specifically by the county's clerk and recorder's office. To search for these records, individuals must first identify the county where the marriage occurred.

After determining the correct county, individuals should contact the respective office to inquire about accessing the marriage license. The process can differ between counties, but generally, requests can be made in person or by mail.

Some counties, such as Boulder and Denver, provide online databases, like the Boulder Public Search and Denver Online Records Search, for searching marriage licenses remotely. To use these databases, individuals typically need details like the license number, the names of the couple, and the marriage date.

Note that a fee is required when obtaining a marriage license in the state. The fee amount differs by county. Therefore, it is advised to contact the appropriate county clerk's office for the latest pricing information.

How To Search Marriage Records Online?

Individuals seeking to access Colorado marriage records online have several options beyond VitalChek, the Colorado State Archive database, and the websites of the respective county clerks.

Third-party resources like the Colorado Genealogical Society and RecordsFinder also offer databases for the state's marriage records. While obtaining certified copies may not be possible through these platforms, valuable information confirming the occurrence of a marriage can still be found.

To conduct a successful search on these platforms, users must provide details such as the full names of the spouses, the marriage date, and the county where the marriage occurred. Fees may also be required to access the data within these databases, with costs varying depending on the chosen platform.

When Can You Access Confidential Marriage Records?

A confidential marriage is a legal union in which the marriage record is sealed and not accessible to the public. Couples often opt for this type of marriage to maintain privacy or avoid public disclosure of their marital status, as the records from these marriages are available only to the couple or those with court orders.

In Colorado, however, confidential marriages are not permitted. All marriages performed in the state are documented, and their records can be accessed by eligible individuals through state or county offices. However, couples seeking privacy can explore the following options:

• Limit personally identifiable information when filling out the marriage license application
• Request a court-ordered seal to seal the marriage record (a valid reason must be presented to the court, and sealing is granted at the judge's discretion)
• Use a trusted proxy
• Seek legal advice from a privacy attorney

How Do You Apply for a Marriage License?

Those seeking a marriage license in Colorado must familiarize themselves with the following:

1. Eligibility Requirements

• Age: Both applicants must be 18 years old or older. Applicants aged 16 to 17 must have parental consent or a court order.
• Residency: There are no residency requirements to apply for a marriage license in Colorado.
• Marital Status: Applicants must not already be married to someone else.

2. Required Documents

• Valid state-issued ID like driver's license, passport, military ID, etc
• Social Security numbers for both parties
• Proof of marriage dissolution, if applicable

3. Visit a County Clerk and Recorder's Office

• Marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk, and both applicants must appear in person to apply. Some counties allow one party to apply. However, they must provide a notarized absentee affidavit if the other is unable to appear.

4. Fill Out an Application Form

• Both applicants must provide their basic information such as full names, addresses, birth dates and place of birth, and parent's names.
• If either party was previously married, details about the dissolution of the previous marriage must be provided.

5. Pay the Fee

• The fee for a marriage license is $30, payable by cash, check, or card, depending on the county.

6. Receive the License and Understand the License Terms

• There is no waiting period; the license is valid immediately upon issuance.
• The license is valid for 35 days from the date of issuance.

How Do I Correct a Mistake on My Marriage Certificate?

It is possible to amend mistakes discovered on a marriage license or certificate issued in Colorado. Among the common errors that may occur on a marriage certificate include:

• Misspelled names (first, middle, or last)
• Incorrect dates of birth or marriage
• Wrong place of marriage
• Missing information (e.g., addresses or Social Security numbers)

To amend these errors, individuals can follow these steps:

• Reach out to the clerk's office where the marriage certificate was issued.
• Complete a correction form (obtainable from the issuing clerk's office) and provide the original marriage certificate along with a valid form of identification.
• Depending on the county's process, submit the amendment request in person or by mail. Be sure to include all the required documents.
• Pay the required fee.
• Once processed, individuals will receive the original certificate and an amended version.

Note that timely addressing of errors in marriage records is recommended, as delayed corrections may entail additional procedures. Furthermore, only the issuing county can validate and implement these corrections.

Are Marriage Records Under the Colorado Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) Accessible?

The Colorado Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) offers vital protection for individuals, particularly survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. By providing participants with a secure substitute address, the program safeguards their actual location from potential abusers when engaging with government agencies.

Participants in the ACP can take steps to guarantee the confidentiality of their marriage records. To do so, they must notify the county clerk about their participation in the program, which will then prevent their marriage licenses and certificates from being included in open records.

Colorado Marriage Statistics and Trends

The national marriage trends in the U.S. have undergone a noticeable shift in recent years.

Data from 2018 highlights a decline in marriage rates, with only 53% of adults married, down from 58% in 1995. In contrast, there has been a notable uptick in cohabitation, with 7% of adults choosing to live together without formal marriage, a slight increase from the 3% reported in 1995.

Furthermore, marriage rates exhibit striking disparities across different demographic groups. Among Asian adults, marriage rates stand at a robust 63%, closely followed by white adults at 57%. In contrast, black adults report the lowest marriage rate at 33%.

Educational attainment also emerges as a key factor influencing marital trends, with individuals holding a bachelor's degree boasting a higher marriage rate of 66%, compared to a modest 54% among those with a high school diploma or lower education.

For Colorado marriage statistics, refer to the table below:

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