To elope in Colorado, two adults pick up a marriage license from any county clerk and recorder’s office, hold a ceremony wherever they like (you are allowed to marry each other with no officiant and no witnesses), and return the signed certificate to the issuing county within 63 days. There is no residency requirement and no waiting period, which is why Colorado is one of the most popular elopement states in the country.
Who Can Get Married
Both partners must be at least 18. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds need judicial approval before a license can be issued, and no one under 16 can marry in Colorado.1Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-106 – License to Marry
Neither of you can currently be married to or in a civil union with someone else. Any prior divorce or dissolution must be finalized before you apply. Colorado also prohibits marriages between ancestors and descendants, between siblings, and between aunts or uncles and their nieces or nephews, whether by half or whole blood. Cousin marriage is allowed.2Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-110 – Prohibited Marriages
You do not have to live in Colorado. A license issued here is valid whether you are from another state or another country.3Larimer County. Civil Union and Marriage Licenses
Getting the Marriage License
Any county clerk and recorder’s office in Colorado can issue your license, and it is valid statewide. The county that issues it does not have to be the county where you hold the ceremony.4Adams County, CO. Marriage and Civil Union License
The application asks for each partner’s full legal name, address, birthplace, and parents’ names and birthplaces. You will also need to provide a Social Security number or sign a sworn affidavit stating you do not have one.4Adams County, CO. Marriage and Civil Union License If either of you has been married before, bring the date, location, and court where the divorce or dissolution was finalized.3Larimer County. Civil Union and Marriage Licenses
The fee is about $30.1Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-106 – License to Marry Payment methods vary; some offices take only cash or card, so check the county website before you go.5Pueblo County. Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder Fee Schedule
There is no waiting period. The license is issued the same day, in about 20 minutes, and you can have your ceremony immediately. It stays valid for 35 days from the date of issue, so pick it up close to when you plan to marry.6Summit County Government. Marriage Licenses
Identification You’ll Need
Both partners need a valid photo ID showing date of birth. Accepted documents include:
- A current driver’s license, permit, or state ID from Colorado or another state. An expired Colorado ID is accepted only if it expired within the last year.
- A current U.S. or foreign passport. Larimer County also accepts expired passports.
- Military ID (active duty, dependent, retired, reserve, or National Guard).
- A valid I-551 Resident Alien or Permanent Resident card.
- U.S. or Canadian tribal identification.
- A Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship with an intact photo, or DD-214 military separation papers not marked “Not to be used for identification.”
Birth certificates by themselves, Social Security cards, consular cards, foreign driver’s licenses, and foreign voter registration cards will not work.7Mineral County CO. Marriage License Requirements can vary slightly by county, so call the office you plan to use if you are uncertain.
If One Partner Can’t Show Up at the Clerk’s Office
One of you has to appear in person. The other can complete a notarized absentee affidavit; the partner who does appear brings the completed affidavit and a copy of the absent partner’s ID.4Adams County, CO. Marriage and Civil Union License Ask the county clerk for the correct form before your visit.
The Ceremony: You Can Marry Yourselves
Colorado law allows a marriage to be solemnized by the parties themselves. No officiant, no witnesses, no audience. You declare your intent to marry, exchange whatever vows you want, and sign the marriage certificate together. The marriage is just as legally valid as one performed by a judge.8Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-109 – Solemnization and Registration of Marriages
Self-solemnization is what makes eloping on a mountaintop, at a lake, or in a national park possible without coordinating anyone else’s schedule. If you would rather have someone lead the ceremony, judges, court magistrates, retired judges, and clergy can all officiate, as can anyone conducting the ceremony according to a recognized religious tradition or the customs of an Indian nation or tribe.8Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-109 – Solemnization and Registration of Marriages Witnesses are never legally required.
Return the Certificate Within 63 Days
When the clerk issued your license, they also gave you a marriage certificate form. After the ceremony, someone has to complete it and return it to the county clerk and recorder that issued the license. An officiant handles this if you used one. If you self-solemnized, one of you is responsible.8Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-109 – Solemnization and Registration of Marriages
The deadline is 63 days from the date of your ceremony. Miss it and the late fee is at least $20 plus $5 for each additional day, up to a maximum of $50. The postmark counts as the filing date, so mailing it on day 63 is fine; you can also drop it off in person.8Justia Law. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14 Section 14-2-109 – Solemnization and Registration of Marriages This is the step people forget after a self-solemnized ceremony. Put it on your calendar before you leave the clerk’s office.
Once the certificate is filed, you can order certified copies from the county clerk. Fees run around $1.00 to $1.25 per copy depending on the county, sometimes with a small processing charge for card payments.9Jefferson County. Copies and Records Order two or three; you will need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal processes.
Non-U.S. Citizens
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to marry in Colorado. A valid foreign passport is the most common ID used, and permanent resident cards also work.7Mineral County CO. Marriage License Documents not in English must come with a certified translation. If you do not have a Social Security number, you will sign a sworn affidavit at the clerk’s office stating that.10Jefferson County, Colorado. Social Security Number Affidavit for Marriage License Application
Changing Your Name Afterward
A marriage certificate does not automatically change your legal name anywhere. If either of you is taking a new last name, start with the Social Security Administration.
Request a replacement Social Security card with your new name through the SSA. Depending on eligibility, you may be able to do this online or at a local office, and the new card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.11Social Security Administration. Change Name with Social Security
Wait 24 to 48 hours after the SSA processes your change, then update your Colorado driver’s license or state ID in person at a driver license office. Bring the certified marriage certificate issued by the county clerk; church documents are not accepted. Colorado requires you to update the credential within 30 days of the name change.12Colorado DMV. Update, Change, and Manage Your Name on Your Driver License From there, work through bank accounts, insurance policies, your passport, employer records, and any professional licenses.