Find Marriage License in Broomfield County

Marriage licenses in Broomfield County are issued by the Clerk and Recorder office in Broomfield, a consolidated city-county.

Getting Your License in Broomfield

Broomfield is unique in Colorado as a consolidated city and county. The Broomfield County Clerk and Recorder handles all marriage licenses for the entire city-county. The office is at 1 Descombes Dr in Broomfield. Both people must appear in person together to apply. Bring valid ID, know your Social Security number, and be ready to pay the $30 fee when you visit.

Most counties require appointments for marriage licenses. Call the Broomfield office at 303-438-6332 before you visit to check current hours and appointment requirements. The application process takes about 20 to 30 minutes if you have all your documents and information ready. In most cases, you will receive your license the same day you apply.

What You Need to Bring

Both people must show valid photo ID at the appointment. A current driver license is the most common form of ID. A passport, military ID, or state-issued ID card also works. Your ID must not be expired. If your Colorado license has a note that says "Not valid for federal identification," bring a second form of ID to be safe.

You need to know your Social Security number. The application asks for the last four digits under C.R.S. 14-2-105. If one of you does not have a Social Security number, you must sign an affidavit explaining why. You can complete this form at the Broomfield clerk office or have it notarized ahead of time.

The application asks for your parents' names and addresses. You must list your mother's full maiden name and your father's full name. This is a state requirement that applies to all Colorado counties. If you do not have this information, speak with the clerk staff about your options.

If either of you was married before, you need the date your previous marriage ended. This could be the date of your divorce decree or the date your former spouse died. You do not need to bring documents proving this, but the date must be listed on the application. Broomfield County cannot issue a new license if either person is still legally married to someone else.

The Application Process

Visit the Broomfield County Clerk and Recorder office. Both people must be present at the same time. Staff will give you a marriage license application to complete. Fill out all fields. The form asks for your name, address, date of birth, place of birth, and other basic information. It also asks about your parents and any past marriages. Do not skip any questions.

After 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. Confirm payment methods when you call ahead. The clerk will print your marriage license on the spot. You leave with it that same day in most cases.

Your license is valid right away. Colorado has no waiting period. You can get married the same day you get your license if you want. The license stays valid for 35 days under C.R.S. 14-2-107. Plan 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.

A Broomfield County license can be used anywhere in Colorado. You are not limited to Broomfield for your ceremony. The license is valid statewide but not outside of Colorado under C.R.S. 14-2-107. If you plan to marry in another state or country, you need a license from that place.

Self-Solemnization Option

Colorado is one of 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. You do not need a judge, minister, or any other officiant. Get your license from Broomfield County, hold your ceremony anywhere in Colorado, and sign the certificate yourselves. Then return the signed certificate 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. Friends who get ordained online may or may not qualify depending on the organization that ordained them.

Witnesses are not required for marriage 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 by having them sign the certificate. This is optional and not a legal requirement in Broomfield County.

Fees and Costs

The marriage license fee is $30 in Broomfield 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 marriage certificate cost $1.25 each. Most people get two or three copies when they record their certificate so they have extras for legal purposes.

After your ceremony, you must return the signed certificate to Broomfield County within 63 days. There is no fee to record it. If you miss the deadline, you will 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. Turn in your paperwork on time to avoid these extra costs.

Age Requirements

You must be 18 years old to get a marriage license in Broomfield 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, Broomfield 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.

Recording Your Marriage

After your ceremony, the person who performed it must complete the certificate section of your license. This includes the date, time, and location. If you self-solemnized, you fill this out yourselves. Sign the certificate and return it to Broomfield 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 Broomfield County. They may issue a replacement, or you may need to apply for a new license.

Proxy Marriages and Absentee Applications

If one person cannot come to the appointment, 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.

Additional Information

You do not need to be a Colorado resident to get a license in Broomfield 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.

Colorado does not require blood tests for marriage. There is no waiting period after you get your license. You can use it immediately. 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 Broomfield 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 to create an official record of your relationship in Broomfield County.

Cities in Broomfield County

Broomfield is a consolidated city-county, so the entire county is just one city.

Nearby Counties

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