Broomfield Marriage License

Broomfield operates as both a city and county, giving it a unique structure in Colorado. Residents apply for marriage licenses at the Broomfield County Clerk and Recorder office located on Descombes Drive.

Broomfield County Clerk and Recorder

Broomfield County is one of only two consolidated city-county governments in Colorado. The other is Denver. This means the city and county share the same boundaries and the same government offices. When you need a marriage license in Broomfield, you go to the county clerk office at 1 Descombes Drive. This building houses the Clerk and Recorder who handles licenses, vital records, and property recordings for everyone in Broomfield.

Call ahead at 303-438-6332 to confirm hours and make sure both people can come in at the same time. Most clerk offices require both applicants to appear together. If one person cannot make it, check whether Broomfield County allows an absentee affidavit. This is a notarized form that lets one person apply while the other is somewhere else. Not all counties accept these, so ask before you try to use one.

The application follows standard Colorado rules set out in C.R.S. 14-2-105. You fill out a state form that asks for your name, address, birth date, birthplace, and your parents' full names. You also list the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have a Social Security number, bring an affidavit that explains why. This affidavit must be signed and notarized before you visit the clerk office.

How to Apply for a License

Bring photo ID for both of you. Driver licenses work best, but the clerk also accepts passports, military IDs, or any government-issued ID with your picture and birth date. Make sure your ID is current. Expired IDs are not accepted even if they expired just a few days ago.

The form asks about previous marriages. If either person was married before, write down when that marriage ended. This could be a divorce date or the date a spouse died. You do not have to bring proof. The county takes your word for it. But the previous marriage must be legally over. Getting a license while still married to someone else is bigamy, which is illegal in Colorado even though prosecutions are uncommon.

Pay thirty dollars when you apply. This is the statewide fee set by law. Counties cannot charge more or less. Broomfield County accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. If you use a credit card, there may be a small processing fee on top of the thirty-dollar license cost. Ask about payment options when you call to confirm your visit.

The license becomes valid right away. There is no waiting period in Colorado. You can get married the same day if you want. The license stays good for thirty-five days under C.R.S. 14-2-107. If you do not use it within that time, it expires. You have to apply again and pay another thirty dollars. Plan your timing so the license is still valid on your wedding day.

Ways to Get Married in Broomfield

Colorado law allows three types of ceremonies. You can have a religious ceremony with clergy. You can have a civil ceremony with a judge or magistrate. Or you can self-solemnize, which means you marry yourselves without an officiant. Self-solemnization is allowed under C.R.S. 14-2-109. This makes Colorado one of the few states where couples can marry themselves without needing anyone else present.

If you choose a religious ceremony, your minister or other clergy member signs the certificate after the wedding. They do not have to be registered with the state. Out-of-state clergy can perform marriages in Colorado without any special paperwork. After the ceremony, return the completed certificate to the Broomfield County Clerk and Recorder within sixty-three days.

For a civil ceremony, contact a judge or magistrate who performs weddings. The county clerk office does not provide officiants. You have to find one yourself. Some judges charge a fee. Others do it for free or ask for a donation. Confirm the cost before you schedule the ceremony so there are no surprises.

With self-solemnization, you fill out the certificate yourselves. Write the date, time, and location of the ceremony. Both of you sign it. You do not need witnesses. Witnesses are optional in Colorado. If you want them, they can be any age. Return the signed certificate to Broomfield County within sixty-three days of the ceremony date shown on the form.

• License valid immediately upon issue
• Good for thirty-five days
• Must be used in Colorado only
• No residency requirement
• No blood test required
• Both people must be at least eighteen

Filing Your Completed Certificate

After the ceremony, someone must return the certificate to Broomfield County. If you had an officiant, they are supposed to do this within sixty-three days under state law. But many officiants forget or assume you will handle it. Do not assume anything. Check with the county a week or two after your wedding to make sure they received it. If they did not, track down the officiant and get it filed before the deadline passes.

If you self-solemnized, you are responsible for returning the certificate. Mail it or drop it off in person at 1 Descombes Drive. The county records it and sends you a certified copy. This copy serves as legal proof of your marriage. You need it for things like name changes, insurance updates, tax filings, and applying for spousal benefits.

Late filings cost money. If the certificate arrives after sixty-three days, the county charges a twenty-dollar late fee immediately. They add five dollars per day after that up to a total of fifty dollars. These fees are not optional. C.R.S. 14-2-109 requires counties to assess them. Return your certificate on time to avoid these charges.

Certified copies cost $1.25 each at the county level. Order several when you file your certificate. You will need copies for Social Security, the DMV, banks, employers, and insurance companies. It is easier to get multiple copies at once than to go back later when you realize you need more.

Who Can Get Married

Both people must be at least eighteen years old. If someone is sixteen or seventeen, they need a juvenile court order under C.R.S. 14-2-108. No one under sixteen can marry in Colorado. That rule went into effect a few years ago when the legislature raised the minimum age. Parents cannot give consent anymore. The only exception is a court order, and judges rarely issue those.

You do not have to live in Colorado. The state has no residency requirement. People from other states can apply as long as they plan to hold the ceremony in Colorado. The license is not valid in any other state. If you get married outside Colorado, the marriage is not legal no matter how official the ceremony seems. Apply for a license in the state where the ceremony will take place.

Common law marriage is recognized in Colorado. This means you can be legally married without a license or ceremony if you meet certain requirements. But there is no formal way to prove a common law marriage exists. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment does not issue certificates for common law marriages. If you want legal documentation, go through the regular license process.

Where to Get More Information

Contact the Broomfield County Clerk and Recorder at 303-438-6332 with questions. They can tell you what documents to bring and how long the process takes. They cannot give legal advice. If you have complex legal issues like a court-ordered name change or questions about dissolving a previous marriage, talk to a family law attorney before you apply.

For certified copies after your marriage is recorded, order them from Broomfield County. The county charges less than the state and processes requests faster. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also keeps copies, but they charge seventeen dollars for the first copy and take about thirty business days to fill online orders.

Nearby Colorado Cities

Other cities in the metro area use their own county clerk offices:

• Westminster
• Thornton
• Arvada
• Boulder
• Longmont
• Denver
• Lakewood
• Aurora