Washington County Colorado. Your online resource for information

Washington County Clerk and Recorder

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Closed on Legal Holidays)

County Clerk and Recorder
Washington County
150 Ash
Akron, CO 80720
970 345 6565

Marriage Licenses

In accordance with the requirements below, a license to marry in Colorado may be obtained during normal office hours, in the Office of the County Clerk and Recorder, located in the county seat of each county. The License is valid upon receipt, and must be used within 30 days in the State of Colorado. The fee is $10.00. A license issued by another state is not valid in Colorado.

AGE: The requirements for the bride and groom are the same:

18 and older - No parental consent is required.
16 and 17 - Consent of both parents, or the parent having sole legal custody, or guardian, or judicial approval is required.
Younger than 16 - Consent of parents or guardian and judicial approval (court order) are required -
NO EXCEPTIONS

VALID IDENTIFICATION MUST BE FURNISHED BY BOTH PARTIES. Example: Passport, Birth Certificate, Drivers License, Military I.D., etc. Social Security Number is required (C.R.S. 14-2-105).

BLOOD TEST: As of July 1, 1989, blood tests are not required for either party in the State of Colorado.

SAME SEX: Same sex marriages are prohibited in Colorado. Marriage licenses are only issued to male-female couples.

PROHIBITED MARRIAGES: A couple may not marry when one of the parties is still married to another person. Divorces must be final! Marriage between ancestor and descendant, brother and sister, uncle and niece, or aunt and nephew - whether the relationship is by half or whole blood - is prohibited. Marriage between cousins is permitted in Colorado.

APPLICATION: Both the bride and the groom must complete and sign the marriage application form. At least one of the parties must apply in person before the marriage clerk. If one of the parties cannot appear in person, he or she must complete an affidavit received from our office with their signature notarized. A couple already married, who wish to renew their marriage vows, or those who have a common law marriage may obtain a license by stating that they are married to each other. Applicants for a marriage license need not be Colorado residents.

CEREMONY: Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (C.R.S. 14-2-109). Others who can solemnize a marriage are judges, retired judges, magistrates, public officials authorized to perform marriages, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by a religious denomination or Indian Tribe or Nation. 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.

LICENSE: The person solemnizing the marriage shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the County Clerk and Recorder within sixty days after solemnizing. Any person who fails to forward the marriage certificate to the County Clerk and Recorder's office shall be required to pay a $20 late fee and an additional five dollar late fee may be assessed for each additional day of failure up to a maximum of $50.

WITNESSES: Witnesses are not required in the State of Colorado. Some clergy, judge or public official may request them.

To make sure you get all the benefits you're entitled to receive, notify Social Security if you change your name.

It's easy to make the change. Call Social Security at 1 800 722 1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. each business day. To get a new Social Security card, you'll need two pieces of identification - one with your old name and one with your new one. And it's free. You never need to pay for Social Security services like this one.

The Greeley office, located at 800 8th Ave., Suite 330 is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number is 970 353 2192. Call either number for information about the Ft. Morgan or Sterling offices.

Copyright 2006 Washington County Colorado