Find Marriage License in Adams County

Marriage licenses in Adams County are issued by the Clerk and Recorder office in Brighton. You must schedule an appointment online to apply for a license in this county.

How to Get Your License in Adams County

Adams County requires that both people applying for a marriage license come in at the same time for an appointment. You cannot just walk in. The office uses an online scheduling system that opens up new time slots about two to three weeks out. Appointments fill up fast, so book yours early. The county office is at 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy in Brighton, on the first floor in Suite E2400. It is open most weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on Wednesday when it opens at 8:30 a.m. instead.

Before you schedule, you must fill out the Adams County online application. The application asks for details about both people getting married. You need to give your parents' names and addresses even if you do not know them. Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-105 makes this a required field. Once the application is done, you get a seven-digit order number. Use that number when you book your appointment online. If you try to show up without an appointment, the staff will not help you that day.

Adams County does not perform domestic partnerships or civil unions. You will need to go to a different county if you want a civil union license. The office also has a strict no-photo and no-ceremony rule. They do not allow people to take pictures in the office or lobby. You cannot use their space to hold a wedding ceremony. Both policies are in place to protect privacy and keep the office running on time.

What You Need to Bring

Both people must bring valid ID to the appointment. The clerk accepts a current driver license, state ID, military ID, or passport. Some people try to use a Colorado license that has a black strip saying "Not valid for federal identification." Adams County may not accept those licenses, so bring a different form of ID just in case.

You need to know your Social Security number. The state form only asks for the last four digits. If one of you does not have a Social Security number, bring a completed affidavit. This form says you do not have a number and explains why. You can sign the affidavit at the county office in front of staff or get it notarized ahead of time. Forms are on the Adams County website.

The application also asks about past marriages. If either of you was married before, bring the date your last divorce was final or the date your spouse died. You do not need to show proof, but the date must be listed on the form. The staff cannot issue your license if you leave this field blank.

Be ready to answer these questions during your appointment:

• Place of birth for each person
• Current address for both
• Parents' full names and addresses
• Last four digits of your Social Security number
• Details about any previous marriage, divorce, or civil union

Marry Yourself in Adams County

Colorado is one of just a few states that lets you marry yourself. This is called self-solemnization. Under C.R.S. 14-2-109, the two people getting married can sign their own certificate without any judge, minister, or officiant. You do not need a religious or civil ceremony. You do not even need witnesses. Just get your license from Adams County, hold your own ceremony, and sign the certificate on the date and place you choose. Then return the signed certificate to the clerk office within 63 days so it can be recorded.

Self-solemnization is not the same as having a friend or relative sign as an officiant. Your friend cannot sign the certificate unless they are an authorized judge, magistrate, or ordained clergy. If you want someone else to perform your ceremony, that person must hold real legal authority under Colorado law. If you prefer to have no officiant at all, self-solemnization is the right choice in Adams County.

Witnesses are not required for any type of marriage in Adams County. Some couples like to have family or friends sign as witnesses. Colorado law allows kids to sign, so feel free to let your children be part of the ceremony if you want. Adams County used to allow pet paw prints on the license, but many Colorado counties have stopped this practice due to scanning problems. Check with the clerk at your appointment if you want to include a pet signature.

Adams County Marriage License Costs

The cost for a marriage license in Adams County is $30. This fee is the same in all 64 Colorado counties. The state sets this price under C.R.S. 14-2-106. You can pay with cash, check, or card at the appointment. Certified copies of your recorded license cost $1.25 each. Most people get at least two or three copies for their records.

Once you return your completed certificate to Adams County after your ceremony, the office will record it in their system. You can order copies at any time after that. If you need a copy right away, plan to pick it up in person. Mail orders take longer. If you lose the certificate before you return it to the clerk, call the office. They may charge a replacement fee or require you to start over with a new license.

If you do not return the signed certificate within 63 days of the ceremony, Adams County will charge a late fee. The law under C.R.S. 14-2-109 says the minimum late fee is $20. After that, the office can charge $5 per day up to a maximum of $50. Get your paperwork back on time to avoid these extra costs.

When You Can Use Your License

Your marriage license is valid as soon as the clerk hands it to you. There is no wait time in Colorado. You can hold your ceremony on the same day you get the license if you want. The license stays valid for 35 days from the date it was issued. That gives you just over a month to have your ceremony. Plan your wedding date within that window so your license does not expire.

If 35 days pass and you have not used the license, it becomes void. You cannot extend the deadline. The only option is to go back to Adams County and get a new license with a new $30 fee. Make sure your ceremony happens before the license expires.

You can use an Adams County license anywhere in Colorado. C.R.S. 14-2-107 says the license is good statewide but not outside Colorado. If you plan to get married in another state or country, you need a license from that place. If you get married in Colorado but live in a different county, you can still use an Adams County license. Many people pick the county that is most convenient for them to visit.

After the ceremony, the person who performed it must fill out the certificate section of the license. This includes the date, time, and location of the ceremony. If you self-solemnize, you fill this part out yourselves. Then mail or hand deliver the signed certificate back to Adams County within 63 days. The clerk will record it and send you a copy once it is in the system. This recorded certificate is your official proof of marriage.

Proxy Marriages in Adams County

A proxy marriage lets one person stand in for an absent party during the ceremony. Colorado allows this only if one person is in the military stationed overseas or working abroad as a government contractor. The person who is present must be a Colorado resident. Both people must be 18 or older. Self-solemnization is not allowed for proxy marriages under C.R.S. 14-2-109.

If one of you cannot come to Adams County for the appointment, the absent person needs to complete an absentee affidavit. This form must be notarized. The person who is present can then come to the appointment alone with the notarized affidavit and complete the application. The license will be issued, but the ceremony itself will require a proxy to stand in for the absent party at the time you get married in Adams County.

Adams County Age Rules for Marriage

You must be 18 years old to get a marriage license in Adams County without any extra steps. If you are 16 or 17, you need a court order from a juvenile court judge. Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-108 does not allow parental consent as an option. You must go through the court process to get judicial approval. No one under age 16 can marry in Colorado. This rule has been in place since 2019 when the state passed HB19-1316.

To get a court order in Adams County, contact the local juvenile court and ask about the procedure. You will need to file a petition and attend a hearing. The judge will decide if the marriage is in your best interest. Bring the court order to your appointment at the clerk office. Without that document, Adams County cannot issue a license to anyone under 18.

Adams County Service Locations

The main office for marriage licenses is in Brighton. Adams County also has a location in Bennett that handles some services. If you want to schedule an appointment at the Bennett office, call 720.523.6020 instead of using the online booking system. Not all services are available at all locations, so confirm ahead of time which office can help you with your marriage license needs in Adams County.

Other Marriage Information for Adams County

Colorado does not require blood tests for marriage. There is no waiting period after you get your license. You do not need to be a Colorado resident to get a license here. People from other states and countries can apply for a marriage license in Adams County as long as both people show up for the appointment with valid ID.

Adams County keeps a list of civil ceremony officiants on their website. These are judges and magistrates who can perform your ceremony for a fee. If you want a religious ceremony, find your own clergy. Clergy do not need to register in Colorado. They just need to be ordained by a recognized denomination or religious organization.

Common law marriage is still recognized in Colorado. If you and your partner have lived together and presented yourselves as married, you may have a common law marriage even without a license. There is no such thing as a common law marriage license, but you can apply for a regular license and then self-solemnize it if you want an official record of your relationship in Adams County.

Cities in Adams County

Adams County includes many cities. All residents in these cities get their marriage license from the Adams County Clerk office in Brighton.

Other cities and towns in Adams County include Federal Heights, Northglenn (shared with Weld County), and parts of Aurora. All couples living in Adams County apply for their marriage license at the same office in Brighton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Adams County. You can apply for a marriage license in any Colorado county regardless of where you live.