Centennial Marriage License Lookup

Centennial residents obtain marriage licenses through Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, with offices conveniently located in both Littleton and Centennial.

Arapahoe County Clerk Offices

Arapahoe County operates two full-service locations for marriage licenses. The main office is at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120. There's also a Centennial office that serves residents on the east side of the county. Both locations provide complete marriage license services. You can apply for your license, obtain it, and record it all at the same office.

Call (303) 795-4520 or email recording@arapahoegov.com to schedule an appointment. Due to high demand, all marriage and civil union license services are by appointment only until further notice. The county does not accept walk-ins for marriage licenses. You must have a scheduled appointment to be served.

How to Apply

Both applicants must appear in person at your scheduled appointment time. Bring valid photo identification such as a U.S. driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID. Your ID must be current and not expired. Some Colorado driver's licenses have a black strip stating "Not valid for federal identification." These may not be accepted at all locations, so call ahead if you have this type of license.

You'll need to provide your Social Security Number or at least the last four digits. If you don't have a Social Security Number, you must complete an affidavit explaining why. Arapahoe County has this form available, or you may be able to download it in advance from their website.

The application requires information about your parents under C.R.S. 14-2-105. You must list their full names and addresses if known. This is a state requirement, not a county policy. If you've been married before, bring details about your divorce or your former spouse's death. Include the exact date of divorce, the name of the court that granted it, and the city and state where that court is located.

The marriage license costs $30. Arapahoe County accepts e-checks and credit cards. Credit card payments include a processing fee of $0.75 plus 2.26 percent of the total. Your license is issued the same day and valid immediately. Colorado has no waiting period, so you can get married as soon as you receive your license.

Colorado Self-Solemnization

Colorado is one of the few states that allows couples to marry themselves without an officiant. Under C.R.S. 14-2-109, you and your partner can solemnize your own marriage. No third party is required. This makes Colorado popular for elopements and private ceremonies.

To self-solemnize your marriage, both parties sign the marriage certificate in the officiant section. Write "The Parties to the Marriage" as the title. Complete all required information including the date, time, location, and county where the ceremony took place. Both parties must also sign in the designated party signature areas.

Witnesses are not required by Colorado law. If you choose to include witnesses, there's no age restriction. Children can sign as witnesses if you want them to participate in your ceremony. The witness section is optional since Colorado doesn't require witness signatures for a valid marriage.

Traditional Ceremonies

If you prefer a traditional ceremony, you can have a religious officiant perform your marriage. Clergy from any recognized denomination or Indian nation can solemnize marriages in Colorado. Out-of-state clergy don't need to register in Colorado, but they must have valid credentials from their religious organization.

Civil ceremonies are performed by judges, magistrates, retired judges, or other authorized public officials. The 18th Judicial District Court in Centennial offers marriage and civil union ceremonies. Contact them at (303) 645-6600. The court is located at 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112. You can also contact Arapahoe County Court in Littleton at (303) 798-4591, located at 1790 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO 80120.

Friends and relatives cannot act as officiants unless they're legally authorized to perform marriages in Colorado. Simply getting ordained online does not grant automatic authority to solemnize marriages here. The person must be recognized by a religious denomination, Indian nation, or tribe, or hold a position like judge or magistrate. Arapahoe County provides a list of civil ceremony officiants on their website.

License Validity and Use

Marriage licenses in Colorado are valid for 35 days from the date of issue, as set by C.R.S. 14-2-107. You must have your ceremony within this timeframe. The license you receive from Arapahoe County works anywhere in Colorado. You can get married in Centennial, another Colorado city, or any location within the state.

If you don't use the license within 35 days, it becomes void. You won't receive a refund of the $30 fee, and you'll need to apply for a new license if you still want to marry.

Colorado marriage licenses are only valid for ceremonies performed in Colorado. You cannot use a Colorado license for a ceremony in another state. If you plan to marry outside Colorado, you must obtain a license from that state. Once your Colorado marriage is recorded, all other states will recognize it.

Recording Your Marriage

After your ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage certificate portion of the license. If you self-solemnized, you complete this section yourselves. The certificate must show the date, time, location, and county of the ceremony. Both parties sign, and the officiant signs and provides their title.

The completed license must be returned to Arapahoe County within 63 days. There's no fee for recording the license, but you must return it to make your marriage official. You can mail it or drop it off at any Arapahoe County branch office. 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.

Late returns result in penalties. The minimum late fee is $20, plus $5 for each additional day up to a maximum of $50. These fees are set by C.R.S. 14-2-109 and apply statewide.

Getting Certified Copies

Once your marriage is recorded, you can order certified copies from Arapahoe County. The county charges 25 cents per page for regular copies and $1 per document for certification. Certified copies are needed for legal purposes like name changes, insurance updates, and tax filings.

You can also get certified copies from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Vital Records Section. State copies cost $17 for the first copy and $10 for additional copies ordered at the same time. Normal processing time is 30 business days for online orders. Order through www.vitalchek.com or call (866) 632-2604.

Who Can Get Married

Both parties must be at least 18 years old to marry without restrictions. Those who are 16 or 17 years old can marry only with a juvenile court order, which requires a formal hearing. Courts rarely grant these orders. Colorado law prohibits marriage for anyone under 16, as established by HB19-1316 in 2019. Parental consent is not an option for minors.

You don't need to be a Colorado resident to get a marriage license in Arapahoe County. Centennial residents, other Colorado residents, and out-of-state couples can all apply. The license is valid only for ceremonies in Colorado, but once recorded, all other states will recognize your marriage.

Both parties must be legally free to marry. You cannot be currently married to someone else. All previous marriages must be ended through divorce, annulment, or death of the spouse. Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-110 prohibits marriages between close relatives including ancestors, descendants, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Marriage between first cousins is legal in Colorado.

Priority Service

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

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, which still allow this. The license you get from any Colorado county works for ceremonies anywhere in the state.

More Information

Visit www.arapahoeco.gov for current information about Arapahoe County marriage licenses. The website includes forms, FAQs, and instructions for the application process. You can also call (303) 795-4520 or email recording@arapahoegov.com with questions.

For legal assistance with family law matters, contact Colorado Legal Services. They provide free or reduced-fee help to qualifying residents. The Colorado Bar Association offers lawyer referral services if you need to hire a private attorney.