Search Thornton Marriage License

Thornton marriage licenses are issued by Adams County Clerk and Recorder in Brighton, which serves Thornton and other Adams County communities.

Adams County Clerk Location

Thornton residents must go to the Adams County Clerk and Recorder office in Brighton to get a marriage license. The office is at 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, 1st Floor, Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 80601-8203. This is the main location for all Adams County marriage license services. Phone (720) 523-6020 for questions or help with the application process. The fax number is (720) 523-6009 if you need to send documents.

Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the office opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. Adams County requires appointments for all marriage licenses with no exceptions. The county strictly enforces this policy. If you show up without an appointment, you will be refused service.

Online Application Required

You must complete the Adams County online application before scheduling an appointment. The application is available at recording.adcogov.org. Fill out all fields on the form. Every section is required, including information about your parents. This is mandated by Colorado state law under C.R.S. 14-2-105 and is not negotiable.

When you finish the application, the system generates a 7-digit order number or transaction number. Write this down. You need this number to schedule your appointment. Without it, you cannot book a time slot.

Schedule your appointment online at adamscounty.qmatic.io/booking. Appointments fill up fast. The county recommends booking 2-3 weeks before your ceremony date. If you wait until the last minute, you may not find an available slot in time.

What You Need for Your Appointment

Both applicants must appear in person at the scheduled time. Bring valid photo identification. Acceptable IDs include U.S. driver's license, passport, state-issued ID, military ID, or original or certified birth certificate. Colorado licenses with a black strip that says "Not valid for federal identification" may not be accepted, so call ahead if you have this type.

You'll need your Social Security Number or at least the last four digits. If you don't have a Social Security Number, you must sign an affidavit. Adams County provides this form, or you can download it in advance from their website.

If either person was married before, bring details about the divorce. You need the exact date of the divorce, the name of the court that granted it, and the city and state where that court is located. All previous marriages must be legally ended before you can apply for a new license.

The license costs $30. Adams County accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. You receive your license the same day. It's valid immediately, so you can use it right away if you want.

Adams County Policies

Adams County has strict rules about its marriage license process. You must use the Adams County application form. The county does not accept applications from other Colorado counties. If you bring an application from another county, you will be refused service.

The office does not allow ceremonies or photos in the building. This applies to the clerk's office and the lobby. You must hold your ceremony elsewhere. The policy exists to protect customer privacy and handle sensitive documents securely.

Adams County does not perform domestic partnerships. If you need a domestic partnership instead of a marriage license, you must go to a different county. Jefferson, Boulder, and other surrounding counties may offer this service.

How to Get Married

Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-109 allows three types of marriage ceremonies. You can have a religious ceremony with clergy from any recognized denomination. You can have a civil ceremony performed by a judge, magistrate, or other authorized official. Or you can self-solemnize, meaning you marry yourselves without an officiant.

Self-solemnization is unique to Colorado. Both parties sign the marriage certificate in the officiant section. Write "The Parties to the Marriage" as your title. No witnesses are required, though you can include them. There's no age limit for witnesses, so kids can sign if you want them involved.

Friends or family cannot act as officiants unless they hold legal authority to perform marriages in Colorado. Getting ordained online doesn't automatically grant this authority. The person must be recognized by a religious denomination, Indian nation, or tribe, or be a judge or magistrate.

Using Your License

Your license is valid for 35 days from the date it's issued, per C.R.S. 14-2-107. You can get married anywhere in Colorado during that time. The license works in any Colorado county regardless of where you obtained it. If you don't use it within 35 days, it becomes void and must be returned to Adams County for cancellation. You won't get a refund of the $30 fee.

Colorado licenses are only valid for ceremonies in Colorado. If you plan to marry in another state, you must get a license from that state. Other states will recognize your Colorado marriage once it's recorded, but you cannot use a Colorado license for an out-of-state ceremony.

Recording the License

After your ceremony, complete the marriage certificate portion of the license. Include the date, time, and location of the ceremony, plus the county where it took place. Both parties sign. The officiant signs and provides their title. If you self-solemnized, you fill out the officiant section yourselves.

Return the completed license to Adams County Clerk and Recorder within 63 days. You can mail it to 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, Suite E2400, Brighton, CO 80601-8203, or drop it off in person during business hours. Late returns result in a $20 minimum fee plus $5 per day up to a maximum of $50, as set by C.R.S. 14-2-109.

Once Adams County records your license, you can order certified copies for $1.25 each. You can also get copies from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for $17, though state processing takes 30 business days.

Who Can Marry in Thornton

Both parties must be 18 years old or have a juvenile court order if 16 or 17. Colorado prohibits marriage for anyone under 16 as of 2019 with HB19-1316. Parental consent is not an option for minors. Courts rarely grant orders for 16 and 17 year olds to marry.

You don't need to be a Thornton or Colorado resident. Out-of-state couples can get licenses in Adams County and use them anywhere in Colorado. The license is valid only for Colorado ceremonies.

You cannot be married to anyone else. All previous marriages must be ended through divorce, annulment, or death of the spouse. You cannot marry close relatives like parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews, per C.R.S. 14-2-110. First cousins can marry in Colorado.

More Resources

Visit adamscountyco.gov for the online application, forms, and current information about Adams County marriage licenses. The website includes FAQs and detailed instructions for the application process.

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