Access Fort Collins Marriage License
Fort Collins marriage license services are provided by the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder, with the main office conveniently located downtown at 200 W. Oak Street.
Fort Collins Quick Facts
Larimer County Clerk Offices
The Fort Collins office at 200 W. Oak Street, First Floor, Fort Collins, CO 80521 handles all marriage license applications for Fort Collins residents. This is the main Larimer County location and offers the fastest service. Call (970) 498-7860 or email recording@larimer.gov with questions about marriage licenses. The office opens Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Larimer County also operates branch offices in Loveland and Estes Park. These locations serve as vehicle licensing branches and handle marriage licenses too. Wait times at Loveland and Estes Park may be longer, especially on the first and last days of any month when motor vehicle transactions peak. The Fort Collins office focuses on recording services and typically processes marriage licenses more quickly.
| Office | Larimer County Clerk and Recorder |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 W. Oak Street, First Floor, Fort Collins, CO 80521 |
| Phone | (970) 498-7860 |
| recording@larimer.gov | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
How to Apply
Both applicants must appear together at the clerk's office. Bring valid government-issued photo ID with your date of birth, issue date, and expiration date. Acceptable IDs include U.S. driver's licenses, passports, state ID cards, and military IDs. The ID must be current and unexpired.
You'll provide your Social Security Number or the last four digits on the application. If you don't have a Social Security Number, you must sign an affidavit explaining why. The clerk's office has this form available. The application also requires information about your parents, including their full names and addresses. This is a state requirement under C.R.S. 14-2-105 and applies to all Colorado counties.
If either party was married before, bring details about your divorce or your former spouse's death. Include the exact date the divorce was finalized, the name of the court, and the city and state where the court is located. Previous marriages must be legally ended before you can apply for a new license.
The license costs $30.00 and is issued the same day you apply. You can use it immediately. There's no waiting period in Colorado, so you can get married as soon as you walk out of the clerk's office if you want.
Types of Marriage Ceremonies
Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-109 allows couples to solemnize their own marriage. This means you can perform your own ceremony without a third party. Larimer County provides instructions for self-solemnization when you apply for your license. You sign the marriage certificate in the officiant section and write "The Parties to the Marriage" as the title.
Judges, retired judges, magistrates, Indian tribe officials, and clergy can also solemnize marriages in Colorado. Out-of-state clergy and officiants don't need to register in Colorado. They just need valid credentials from their religious organization or tribe. Friends and relatives cannot sign as officiants on your marriage certificate unless they hold one of these positions. Getting ordained online doesn't automatically give someone the authority to solemnize marriages in Colorado.
Witnesses are not required by Colorado law. If you want witnesses, there are no age restrictions. Children can sign as witnesses if you'd like to include them in your ceremony. The witness section on the marriage certificate is optional.
Pet Paw Prints Allowed
Larimer County still allows pet paw prints on marriage licenses. If you want your dog or cat to be part of your official marriage record, bring them to your appointment or include their paw print in the witness section when you complete the certificate after your ceremony. Not all Colorado counties allow this anymore, so if it's important to you, Larimer County is a good choice. You can get a license from any county and use it anywhere in Colorado.
Using Your License
Your license is 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 time. If you don't use the license within 35 days, it becomes void. You won't get a refund of the $30 fee, and you'll need to apply for a new license.
The license works anywhere in Colorado. You can get married in Fort Collins, another Colorado city, or a remote mountain location. The ceremony location doesn't matter as long as it's in Colorado. Your marriage license from Colorado is not valid for ceremonies in other states. If you plan to marry outside Colorado, you must get a license from that state.
Returning Your Completed License
After your ceremony, the officiant or the parties complete the marriage certificate section of the license. This includes the date, time, and location of the ceremony, plus the county where it took place. Both parties must sign. The officiant signs and provides their title. If you self-solemnized, you fill out the officiant section yourselves.
The completed license must be returned to the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder within 63 days. Anyone can return it for you. You don't have to do it in person. Mail it to 200 W. Oak Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521, or drop it off during business hours. You can also return it to the Loveland or Estes Park offices.
Late returns result in fees. You'll pay a $20 minimum late fee plus $5 for each additional day up to a maximum of $50. These penalties apply statewide per C.R.S. 14-2-109.
Once Larimer County records your license, you can order certified copies. Copies are available immediately if you return the license to the Fort Collins office. If you return it to Loveland or Estes Park, allow three days for processing. The county retains the original for 3-4 days during the recording process. If you don't receive your certified copy within 14 days after recording, call (970) 498-7860.
Who Can Get Married
You must be 18 or older to marry without restrictions. Colorado prohibits marriage for anyone under 16. Those who are 16 or 17 years old need a juvenile court order, which requires a formal hearing. Parental consent is not an option since 2019 when HB19-1316 became law.
You don't need to be a Colorado resident. Fort Collins residents, out-of-state couples, and international visitors can all apply for licenses in Larimer County. The license is valid only for Colorado ceremonies, but once your marriage is recorded, all other states will recognize it.
Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-110 prohibits marriages between close relatives. You cannot marry an ancestor, descendant, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew. Marriage between first cousins is legal in Colorado.
Common Law Marriage
Colorado recognizes common law marriage, but the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder doesn't provide forms for it. Common law marriage means a couple presents themselves as married and is recognized as married by their community, even without a ceremony or license. For official documentation of a common law relationship, you can apply for a regular marriage license and then self-solemnize it. This creates an official record. For more information about common law marriage, visit the Colorado Attorney General's website.
More Information
Visit www.larimer.gov/clerk/recording/marriage for current information about marriage licenses in Larimer County. The website includes FAQs, forms, and instructions for self-solemnization. You can also contact the clerk's office by phone at (970) 498-7860 or email recording@larimer.gov.
For legal help with family law issues, contact Colorado Legal Services. They offer free or reduced-fee assistance to qualifying residents. The Colorado Bar Association provides lawyer referral services if you need to hire a private attorney.