Your dog can sign your marriage license in Colorado in most counties, by placing a paw print on one of the optional witness lines. Denver, Arapahoe, and El Paso counties have banned the practice because the ink damages scanning equipment and has led some certificates to be flagged as falsified. Before the ceremony, confirm with the county clerk where you plan to file.
Counties That Won’t Accept a Paw Print
El Paso County Clerk Steve Schleiker explained that large paw prints were leaving ink residue on scanners and copiers, and some agencies receiving the certificates were flagging them as falsified. El Paso County’s website now states that pet paw prints are no longer allowed in the witness section.1El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. Marriage Licenses Denver and Arapahoe counties follow the same policy.
Most other Colorado counties still accept paw prints. County policies can change quietly, though, and marriage records in Colorado are kept at the county level, so call the clerk’s office before the wedding to confirm their current rule. A certificate rejected after the fact is a problem you don’t want.
Why This Is Legal in Colorado at All
Colorado is one of the few states where a couple can marry themselves. Under Colorado Revised Statutes Section 14-2-109, a marriage may be solemnized “by the parties to the marriage,” so no judge, clergy member, or other officiant is required.2Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14-2-109 – Solemnization and Registration of Marriages – Proxy Marriage Colorado also doesn’t require witnesses. The certificate includes witness lines, but they’re optional.1El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. Marriage Licenses
Because no human has to sign those lines, a dog’s paw print placed there doesn’t interfere with any legal requirement. The marriage is valid on the couple’s own signatures. The paw print is purely sentimental, which is why most clerks have been willing to accept it.
Where the Paw Print Goes on the Certificate
The marriage certificate has distinct sections: party names and signatures, an officiant section, and the optional witness lines. For a self-solemnized marriage, both partners sign as the parties and also sign in the officiant area. Denver’s official instructions confirm that if your officiant does not have a religious ordination or judicial title, you sign the certificate as a self-solemnization.3Denver Clerk and Recorder. Example of How to Fill Out the Marriage Certificate – Officiant
The paw print belongs only on a witness line. Anywhere near the party signatures or the officiant section risks obscuring required information, and the clerk can reject the certificate on that basis. Keep the print small enough to stay inside the witness area without smudging into neighboring fields.
Getting a Clean Paw Print
Use a pet-safe, non-toxic ink pad. Standard stamp ink can irritate skin and smears badly on paper meant to be scanned. Trimming the fur around the paw pads before the ceremony helps produce a clearer impression.
Practice on scrap paper first. You’ll quickly see how much pressure gives a readable print versus a blob. On the certificate itself, one person should hold the paper flat on a hard surface while the other presses the paw down and lifts it straight up without sliding. Keep cleaning wipes within reach so your dog doesn’t track ink across the rest of the document. Since excessive ink is the exact reason some counties banned paw prints, a small, tidy impression is also the one least likely to cause problems when the clerk scans your paperwork.
The License and the Filing Deadline
Before the ceremony, you need a marriage license from a Colorado county clerk’s office. Both partners complete and sign the application, and at least one must appear in person. The fee varies by county but runs around $30.1El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. Marriage Licenses There’s no waiting period, so the license is valid as soon as it’s issued.
The license must be used within 35 days of issue and can be used anywhere in Colorado.4Boulder County. Apply for Marriage License Both parties must be at least 18, neither can still be in a previous marriage or civil union, and the couple cannot be closely related by blood.5Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14-2-110 – Prohibited Marriages
After the ceremony, a party to the marriage must complete the certificate and forward it to the county clerk and recorder within 63 days. You can deliver it in person or by mail; if you mail it, the postmark counts as the filing date. Missing the 63-day window triggers a late fee of at least $20, plus $5 for each additional day, up to a maximum of $50.2Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14-2-109 – Solemnization and Registration of Marriages – Proxy Marriage Late filing doesn’t invalidate the marriage, but the recorded certificate is what you need for practical matters like updating your name or changing beneficiaries.