Access Baca County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Baca County are issued by the Clerk and Recorder in Springfield.

Where to Apply for Your License

Baca County is in the southeast corner of Colorado on the Kansas border. Springfield is the county seat and home to the Clerk and Recorder office. This is where all marriage licenses are issued for Baca County. Both people must appear in person to apply. You need ID, your Social Security number, and $30 for the fee.

Baca County is one of the smaller Colorado counties by population. The clerk office may have limited hours, so call ahead before you make the trip. Ask about current hours and whether you need an appointment. Most rural counties can issue a license the same day you apply if you have all your information ready.

What to Bring to Baca County

Both people must show valid ID. A driver license works best. A passport, military ID, or state ID card is also fine. Make sure your ID is current. If your Colorado license says "Not valid for federal identification," bring a second form of ID just in case Baca County does not accept it.

You need to know your Social Security number. The form asks for the last four digits. If you do not have a Social Security number, you must sign an affidavit. This form explains why you do not have a number. You can fill it out at the office in Baca County or get it notarized ahead of time.

The application asks for your parents' names and addresses. This is a state requirement under C.R.S. 14-2-105. List your mother's full maiden name and your father's full name. If you do not have this information, tell the clerk and they will explain your options.

If either of you was married before, bring the date your past marriage ended. This could be a divorce date or the date your spouse died. You do not need documents at the appointment, but the date must be on the form. Baca County cannot issue a new license if you are still legally married to someone else.

The Application Process

Go to the Baca County Clerk and Recorder office in Springfield. Both people must be there at the same time. The staff will give you a marriage license application. Fill out every field. The form asks for your name, address, date of birth, place of birth, and other details. It also asks about parents and past marriages.

When you finish the form, the clerk will review it and check your IDs. You will pay the $30 fee. Most counties accept cash, check, or card. Ask ahead to confirm payment methods in Baca County. The clerk will print your license on the spot. You walk out with it the same day.

Your license is valid right away. Colorado has no waiting period. You can marry the same day you get your license. The license stays valid for 35 days under C.R.S. 14-2-107. Hold your ceremony within that time or your license will expire. If it expires, you must apply for a new one and pay another $30 fee in Baca County.

Marry Yourself in Colorado

Colorado lets you marry yourself. This is called self-solemnization. C.R.S. 14-2-109 says the two people getting married can sign their own certificate. You do not need a judge, minister, or any officiant. Get your license from Baca County, hold your ceremony anywhere in Colorado, and sign the certificate yourselves. Then return it to the clerk office within 63 days.

Self-solemnization does not mean a friend or relative can sign as your officiant. Only the two people getting married can sign if you choose this option. If you want someone else to perform the ceremony, that person must be a judge, magistrate, or ordained clergy recognized in Colorado.

Witnesses are not required in Colorado. You can have witnesses if you want. Kids can sign as witnesses. There is no age limit. Some families include children in the ceremony. This is a personal choice and not a legal requirement in Baca County.

Costs and Late Fees

The marriage license fee is $30 in Baca County. This is a statewide fee set by Colorado law under C.R.S. 14-2-106. All 64 counties charge the same amount. Certified copies of your recorded certificate cost $1.25 each. Most people get two or three copies when they record their certificate.

After your ceremony, return the signed certificate to Baca County within 63 days. There is no fee to record it. If you miss the deadline, you owe a late fee. The minimum late fee is $20 under C.R.S. 14-2-109. After that, the county can charge $5 per day up to a maximum of $50. Return your paperwork on time to avoid extra costs.

Age and Legal Requirements

You must be 18 years old to get a marriage license in Baca County without 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. You must go through the court. No one under age 16 can marry in Colorado. This rule was set in 2019 with HB19-1316.

Both people must be legally free to marry. If you are still married to someone else, Baca County cannot issue a new license. All prior marriages must be ended by divorce or death. You also cannot marry a close blood relative under C.R.S. 14-2-110. Marriage between cousins is allowed in Colorado.

Where You Can Use Your License

A Baca County marriage license can be used anywhere in Colorado. You do not have to marry in Baca County just because that is where you got your license. The license is valid statewide under C.R.S. 14-2-107. It is not valid outside of Colorado. If you plan to marry in another state or country, you need a license from that place.

You do not need to be a Colorado resident to get a license in Baca County. Couples from other states and countries can apply as long as both people show up in person with valid ID. Many people choose Colorado for weddings because of the self-solemnization option and the lack of a waiting period.

Recording Your Marriage

After your ceremony, the person who performed it must complete the certificate section. This includes the date, time, and location. If you self-solemnized, you fill this out yourselves. Sign the certificate and return it to Baca County within 63 days. You can mail it or drop it off in person.

The clerk office will record your certificate in the county system. Once recorded, your marriage is official and on file with the state. You can order certified copies at any time. Most people get copies right away for name changes or adding a spouse to insurance.

If you lose your certificate before recording it, contact Baca County. They may issue a replacement, or you may need to apply for a new license. Do not wait too long or your 63-day deadline will pass and you will owe late fees.

Absentee and Proxy Marriages

If one person cannot come to the appointment in Baca County, that person may complete an absentee affidavit. This is a notarized form that allows the other person to apply alone. The absent person must have a valid reason like military deployment.

Colorado allows proxy marriages in limited situations under C.R.S. 14-2-109. One party must be a Colorado resident. The other party must be in the armed forces stationed abroad or working as a government contractor. Both people must be 18 or older. Self-solemnization is not allowed for proxy marriages.

Other Important Information

Colorado does not require blood tests for marriage. There is no waiting period after you get your license. You can use it immediately. Plan your ceremony within 35 days so your license stays valid.

Clergy do not need to register in Colorado. They just need to be ordained by a recognized denomination. Out-of-state clergy can perform marriages in Baca County as long as they are ordained.

Common law marriage is 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. You can apply for a regular license and self-solemnize if you want an official record in Baca County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Baca County. You can apply for a marriage license in any Colorado county.