Access Littleton Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Littleton are handled by Arapahoe County, with the main clerk's office located right in Littleton at 5334 S. Prince St.

Arapahoe County Office in Littleton

Littleton residents get marriage licenses from Arapahoe County. The main office is at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120. This location handles all marriage and civil union licenses for Arapahoe County. Call (303) 795-4520 for questions or email recording@arapahoegov.com to get help with your application.

Most of Littleton falls in Arapahoe County. Small portions may be in Douglas County or Jefferson County. You can get your license from any of these counties regardless of which one you live in. A license from one county works for ceremonies anywhere in Colorado. Choose the office that's most convenient for you.

Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, effective January 1, 2026. Due to high demand, all marriage and civil union license services are by appointment only until further notice. Walk-ins are not accepted. Schedule your appointment in advance to ensure you can get your license when you need it.

Arapahoe County also has a Centennial office that provides full marriage license services. Both locations offer the same services. You can apply for the license, obtain it, and record it at either location. Choose the one closer to your home or work.

How to Get Your License

Call (303) 795-4520 or email recording@arapahoegov.com to schedule your appointment. Both applicants must appear together at the scheduled time. Bring valid photo identification such as a driver's license, passport, state-issued ID, or military ID. Original or certified birth certificates are also accepted as identification.

Note that Colorado driver's licenses with a black strip reading "Not valid for federal identification" may not be accepted at some counties. Check with Arapahoe County in advance if you have this type of license. You may need to bring additional identification.

You need 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 can sign it in front of a deputy county clerk at your appointment or get it notarized beforehand.

Bring information about your parents. You need their full names and addresses if known. Father's information should include first, middle, and last name. Mother's information should include first, middle, maiden name, and last name. This is required under C.R.S. 14-2-105. If you don't know some of this information, explain why when you apply.

Who Can Get Married

Both parties must be at least 18 years old to apply without restrictions. If you're 16 or 17, you need a court order from juvenile court. Parental consent alone doesn't work since HB19-1316 passed in 2019. Court orders are rarely granted and require a formal hearing. Colorado prohibits marriage for anyone under 16 years old.

You don't need to be a Colorado resident. Littleton residents and out-of-state couples can all apply at the Arapahoe County office. There's no waiting period between applying and getting married. No blood test is required. The license is valid immediately when issued, so you can marry the same day.

If either person was married before, bring information about that prior marriage. You need the divorce date, the name of the court, and the city and state where the court is located. All divorces must be final before you can apply. If your former spouse died, you may need that information as well.

Cost and How Long It's Valid

The license fee is $30.00 statewide. This is set by Colorado law and applies to all 64 counties. Arapahoe County accepts e-checks and credit cards. Credit card payments include a fee of $0.75 plus 2.26 percent of the total amount.

Your license is valid for 35 days from the date of issue per C.R.S. 14-2-107. You must use it within that time or it becomes void. If you don't use it, return it to the county clerk for cancellation. No refund is given for unused licenses.

After your ceremony, return the completed certificate to Arapahoe County within 63 days. Late returns result in fees. The minimum late fee is $20. An additional $5 per day is charged up to a maximum of $50 total. These penalties apply statewide under C.R.S. 14-2-109.

Three Ways to Get Married

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

For self-solemnization, both parties sign the marriage certificate where an officiant would normally sign. Write "The Parties to the Marriage" as the title. Witnesses are not required for any type of ceremony in Colorado, though you can have them if you want. There's no age limit for witnesses, so your kids can sign if you wish.

Not everyone can sign as an officiant. Friends or relatives cannot solemnize your marriage unless they are authorized to conduct religious or civil ceremonies in Colorado. The couple may solemnize their own marriage, but that doesn't mean a friend can sign for them. Check with the clerk if you have questions about whether someone qualifies as an officiant.

For civil ceremonies in Littleton, 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.

Completing Your Certificate

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

Return the completed license to Arapahoe County within 63 days. You can use one of three 24-hour drop boxes. The Littleton location has a drop box in the parking lot at 5334 S. Prince St. There's also a drop box at 1755 S. Public Road in Lafayette with a slot on the exterior wall. A third drop box is at 529 Coffman St. in Longmont.

You can also mail your license to 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, CO 80120. Or drop it off in person during office hours. Anyone can return the license on your behalf. It doesn't have to be returned by one of the parties to the marriage.

There's no fee for recording. Once the license is recorded, it becomes part of the permanent public record. Arapahoe County will process your license and make it available for certified copies.

Arapahoe County Policies

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, apply in a different county such as Boulder or Larimer. Any Colorado county license works for ceremonies anywhere in the state.

Active military service members and first responders with valid identification receive priority service at Arapahoe County. This helps speed up the process during busy appointment times. Bring your military ID or credentials when you come for your appointment.

Arapahoe County welcomes officiants to appointments. If you want to complete your entire marriage process the same day, you can invite an officiant to your appointment. After receiving your license, the officiant can perform the ceremony, and you can record the completed license immediately.

Civil Unions

Arapahoe County issues civil union licenses in addition to marriage licenses. A civil union is a relationship established by two eligible parties that entitles them to receive the benefits and protections of spouses. The process for civil unions is identical to the marriage license process.

The fee is the same. The validity period is the same. The application requirements are the same. The only difference is the type of document you're applying for. Choose the one that fits your needs.

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

Proxy Marriages and Absentee Applications

Proxy marriages are allowed in limited situations. One party must be a Colorado resident. One party must be a member of the armed forces stationed abroad or a government contractor supporting military operations. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Self-solemnization is not allowed for proxy marriages.

If either applicant cannot appear in person, the absent party must complete an absentee affidavit. This form must be notarized and is valid for 30 days from the notarization date. The present party brings the notarized affidavit to the appointment. Contact the clerk's office for the required forms if you need an absentee affidavit.

Colorado residents can apply for a marriage license remotely via video in some counties. Check with Arapahoe County to see if they currently offer remote applications. Out-of-state applicants must appear in person at the time of application. Both parties must be present and together in the same room.

Getting Certified Copies

Once your license is recorded, you can order certified copies from Arapahoe County. Regular copies cost 25 cents per page. Certified copies cost $1 per document. You can request copies in person, by mail, or by phone during office hours.

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. Normal processing time is 30 business days for online orders. Order online at www.vitalchek.com or call (866) 632-2604.

Marriage license applications are confidential under Colorado law. Only the parties to the marriage or those with a direct and tangible interest can access the application. The marriage certificate itself is public record and can be accessed by anyone. When you order copies, you're typically getting a copy of the recorded marriage certificate, not the original application.

Searching for Existing Records

Arapahoe County offers online document search for records from February 1, 1996 to the present. You can search for recorded marriage certificates through their online portal. For documents older than 1996, make an appointment to visit the Littleton office in person. Staff can help you search older records using the paper index system.

When searching for a marriage record, you typically need the names of both parties and an approximate date of the marriage. Exact dates help narrow the search. If you're searching for your own record, bring photo identification. If you're searching for someone else's record, be prepared to explain your relationship and interest in the document.

More Information

For questions about marriage licenses, visit the Arapahoe County website at www.arapahoeco.gov. You can also call the Recording Division at (303) 795-4520 or email recording@arapahoegov.com. The staff can answer questions about requirements, fees, and appointment availability.

If you need legal assistance with family law matters, Colorado Legal Services provides free or low-cost help to qualifying residents. The Colorado Bar Association offers referral services for private attorneys. For questions about Colorado marriage law, consult Title 14 Article 2 of the Colorado Revised Statutes at colorado.public.law.