Colorado Marriage License and Blood Test Requirements

If you plan on getting married in Colorado, there are a few things you must do to make it legal. Colorado requires only basic documents and age verification, but participants must still follow state laws to obtain a marriage license.

In this article, we’ll cover the requirements for a Colorado marriage license, types of marriage in Colorado, and what you’ll need to do once you have your marriage license. If you have other questions about marriage in Colorado, such as requirements for prenuptial agreements, adoption of step-children, or changing your name, consider speaking with a local family law attorney.

Colorado Marriage License Requirements

Colorado marriage laws are codified at COL. REV. STAT. §14-2-101, et seq., the Colorado Uniform Marriage Act. You can apply for a Colorado marriage license at any county clerk‘s office. The marriage license application must include:

• Full names and addresses of both parties. You will need a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or military ID. You must also provide your Social Security number, if you have one.

• Proof of age. You must be 18 years old to marry without additional requirements. If you are 16 or 17, Colorado generally requires both parental/guardian consent and a court order before you can marry. In most cases, you will not need a birth certificate unless your ID does not provide your date of birth.

• Underage participants must provide the names and addresses of their parents or legal guardians.

• Proof of marital status of both parties. If either party was previously married, you must provide the date, location, and type of court where the divorce was granted. If the dissolution took place less than 30 days before the request for the new license, you must provide a copy of the divorce decree.

• Application fees. Under Colorado law, the marriage license fee is $30. Counties may charge additional fees for optional services or for extra or certified copies.

There is no waiting period for the license. It is issued immediately and valid for 35 days after the date of issue. If the marriage does not take place within 35 days, the license is void and must be returned to the county clerk‘s office so you can have a new one issued.

After You Have Your License

Colorado allows “self-solemnization” of marriages. This means the parties can marry themselves without an officiating party such as a minister or a county judge (C.R.S. § 14-2-109). Anyone can sign the marriage certificate as a witness to the ceremony. Participants should note that some counties now require the witnesses to be human and will not accept “pet signatures” (paw prints, etc.) as valid witnesses.

Other officiants may include a judge, a court magistrate, a retired judge, a public official authorized to solemnize marriages, the parties to the marriage, or any person authorized by a religious denomination or by an Indian tribe or nation.

Once the ceremony is over, the signed marriage certificate must be forwarded to the county clerk‘s office within 63 days. There is a $5 late fee for each day after the 63-day deadline.

Proxy Marriage

If one of the participants cannot be present for the ceremony (due to being in active duty in the military and out of state) Colorado allows a proxy marriage. The requirements include:

• One party must be present in Colorado.

• The in-state party must pay the license fees and provide an absentee affidavit with the absent party‘s notarized signature.

• The affidavit must include copies of valid identification for the absent party.

Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Colorado since 2014 and nationwide since 2015. In 2025, Gov. Jared Polis signed SB25-014, repealing the state’s unconstitutional language on marriage being “between one man and one woman” and guaranteeing all Colorado residents the equal right to marry regardless of gender or sexual preference.

Common-Law Marriage

A “common law marriage” is one in which the individuals mutually agree to be married, and conduct themselves as a married couple, such as by holding themselves out to others as married, and there is no required length of time they must live together.

The state of Colorado is one of the few states that still recognizes “common-law marriage.” However, under Colorado law, any such marriage entered into after September 1, 2006 is not valid unless both participants are over 18 years of age and the marriage is not otherwise invalid. In 2021, same-sex couples were given the opportunity to have their common-law marriages recognized retroactively.

Other Colorado Marriage License Requirements

Colorado does not require a blood test before issuing a license.

Denver and some counties now have online marriage license applications. You can verify whether your county is one by checking the license fee and other information.

If you want a certified copy of your marriage certificate, you can request one from the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office in the county where you were married. The fee is usually $1.25 per printed page.

Get Legal Advice from a Colorado Family Law Attorney

Applying for a marriage license itself is not difficult. There may be other issues you want to discuss with a Colorado family law attorney, such as prenuptial agreements or property rights. If you have any legal concerns, contact a family law attorney in your area.