Find Marriage License in Aurora

Aurora marriage licenses are obtained through county clerk offices because Aurora spans three different counties: Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas.

Which County Office to Use

Most of Aurora is in Arapahoe County, with smaller portions in Adams County and Douglas County. You can get your license from any of these three counties regardless of which part of Aurora you live in. Once you have a license from one county, you can use it anywhere in Colorado. Choose the office that's most convenient for you.

Arapahoe County operates two full-service locations. The main office is at 5334 S. Prince St. in Littleton, and there's also a Centennial office. Both provide marriage license services by appointment. Call (303) 795-4520 or email recording@arapahoegov.com to schedule your visit. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, effective January 1, 2026.

Adams County's main office is at 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, 1st Floor, Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 80601-8203. They require appointments, which you must schedule online through their booking system at least 2-3 weeks before your ceremony. The office opens Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adams County also has a Bennett location available by appointment.

Douglas County handles licenses at 301 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO 80104. Call (303) 660-7446 for information about their hours and appointment requirements. Douglas County serves the southern parts of Aurora near the county line.

Applying at Arapahoe County

Arapahoe County requires appointments for all marriage license services due to high demand. Both applicants must appear together at the scheduled time. The Littleton office at 5334 S. Prince St. and the Centennial office both offer the same services. You can apply for the license, receive it, and record it all at one location.

Bring valid photo identification such as a driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID. You need to provide your Social Security Number or at least the last four digits. If you don't have a Social Security Number, complete an affidavit that explains why. The clerk's office has this form available. You'll also need information about your parents, including their full names and addresses. If you were married before, bring details about your divorce or your former spouse's death.

The license costs $30.00 and is valid immediately upon issue. Arapahoe County accepts e-checks and credit cards. Credit card payments include a fee of $0.75 plus 2.26 percent of the total. Your license remains valid for 35 days from the date of issue per C.R.S. 14-2-107. You can marry the same day or wait up to 35 days.

Adams County Application Steps

If you choose Adams County, you must complete their online application before scheduling an appointment. The application is available at recording.adcogov.org and generates a 7-digit order number when you finish. You need this number to book your appointment through their online scheduling system at adamscounty.qmatic.io/booking.

All fields on the Adams County application must be completed, including parents' information. This is a state requirement under C.R.S. 14-2-105 and is not negotiable. Appointments fill up quickly, so schedule your visit 2-3 weeks in advance of your ceremony date. Failure to schedule an appointment may result in refusal of service, as the county strictly enforces its appointment-only policy.

Adams County does not perform domestic partnerships. If you need a domestic partnership rather than a marriage license, you must contact surrounding counties. For marriage and civil union licenses, Adams County provides full services at the Brighton location and by appointment at the Bennett office.

The office does not allow ceremonies or photos in the lobby or any office areas due to privacy concerns and the sensitive nature of documents handled there. You must hold your ceremony elsewhere and return the completed license for recording within 63 days.

How to Get Married

Colorado offers religious ceremonies, civil ceremonies, and self-solemnization. Religious ceremonies require an officiant from a recognized religious denomination or Indian nation. Civil ceremonies are performed by judges, magistrates, or other authorized officials. Self-solemnization means you marry yourselves without an officiant, which is legal under C.R.S. 14-2-109.

In a self-solemnization ceremony, both parties sign the marriage certificate in the section where an officiant would normally sign. Write "The Parties to the Marriage" as the title. No witnesses are required, though you can include them if you want. There's no age limit for witnesses in Colorado, so children can sign if you wish.

For judicial ceremonies in Aurora, contact the 18th Judicial District Court in Centennial at (303) 645-6600. The court is at 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. You can also try Arapahoe County Court in Littleton at (303) 798-4591, located at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO 80120. These courts offer civil ceremonies performed by judges or magistrates.

What You Need

Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Colorado law prohibits marriage for anyone under 16. Those who are 16 or 17 can marry only with a juvenile court order, which requires a formal hearing and is rarely granted. Parental consent is not an option since the passage of HB19-1316 in 2019.

You don't need to be a Colorado resident to get a license here. Aurora residents and out-of-state couples can apply at any of the three county offices. The license is valid only for ceremonies in Colorado, but once your marriage is recorded, all other states will recognize it.

If either person was married before, the previous marriage must be legally ended. Bring information about your divorce, including the date, court name, and location. If your former spouse died, you may need to provide that information as well. All divorces must be final before you can apply for a new license.

Completing Your License

After your ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage certificate section. If you self-solemnized, you complete this yourselves. The certificate must show the date and location of the ceremony, the county where it occurred, and signatures from both parties. The officiant signs and provides their title.

Return the completed license to the county that issued it within 63 days. Late returns result in a $20 minimum fee plus $5 per day up to a maximum of $50. These fees apply statewide per C.R.S. 14-2-109.

Arapahoe County has 24-hour drop boxes at three locations: 5334 S. Prince St. in Littleton, 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette, and 529 Coffman St. in Longmont. You can drop off your completed license at any time. Adams County accepts returns by mail or in person during office hours. For mailed returns to Adams County, send to 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 80601-8203.

Important Information

Pet paw prints are not allowed on marriage licenses in Arapahoe County. The county discontinued this practice. If you want your pet's paw print on your license, consider applying in Boulder or Larimer County. Any Colorado county license works for ceremonies anywhere in the state, so you can choose a county based on the services you want.

Arapahoe County offers priority service for active military members and first responders with valid identification. This helps speed up the process during busy times.

Common law marriage is recognized in Colorado, but there's no such thing as a common law marriage license. If you want official documentation of a common law marriage, you can apply for a regular marriage or civil union license and then self-solemnize it. This creates an official record of your marriage date.

Getting Certified Copies

Once your license is recorded, you can order certified copies from the county clerk's office that issued your license. Arapahoe County charges 25 cents per page for regular copies and $1 per document for certification. Adams County charges $1.25 per certified copy.

You can also get certified copies from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Vital Records Section. State copies cost $17.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for additional copies ordered at the same time. Processing takes about 30 business days for online orders. You can order online through www.vitalchek.com or by phone at (866) 632-2604.

Additional Help

For Arapahoe County information, visit www.arapahoeco.gov or call (303) 795-4520. For Adams County, visit adamscountyco.gov or call (720) 523-6020. For Douglas County, visit www.douglas.co.us or call (303) 660-7446.

If you need legal assistance with family law issues, Colorado Legal Services offers free or low-cost help to qualifying residents. The Colorado Bar Association also provides referral services for private attorneys.