Lincoln County Marriage License

Lincoln County issues marriage licenses at the Clerk's office in Hugo during weekday business hours.

Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder

The Clerk's office in Hugo handles marriage licenses for Lincoln County. Hugo is a small town on the eastern plains of Colorado, about 90 miles from Denver. The office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. You must arrive by 4:00 PM to get a license. Licenses are not issued after hours, on weekends, or on holidays.

Both people must show up together. Bring your IDs and payment. The staff will help you with the application. The process usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. You get your license the same day.

Requirements for Your Marriage License

Lincoln County follows Colorado state law for marriage licenses. You must be at least 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17, a judge must sign a court order first. No one under 16 can marry in Colorado.

Bring a valid photo ID to the clerk office. Your driver license is the best choice. A passport works too. So does a state ID card. Make sure your ID is current and not expired.

You need your Social Security number. The clerk only asks for the last four digits. If you do not have a Social Security number, you must sign an affidavit. The clerk will provide this form.

The application asks for your parents' names and addresses. If you were married before, you must list when that marriage ended. This can be a divorce date or death date.

Getting Your License

Walk into the Lincoln County Clerk office during business hours. Remember to arrive by 4:00 PM if you want same-day service. Tell the staff you need a marriage license. They will give you an application form.

Fill out the form with your basic information. Your full name, birth date, and place of birth go at the top. List your current address. Write your parents' names if you know them. If you were married before, include when that marriage ended.

Hand in your completed form with both IDs. The clerk will review everything and type up your license. You get it right away. Pay the $30 fee before you leave. The office accepts cash, credit cards, and local checks.

Your license is valid for 35 days from the date it is issued per C.R.S. 14-2-107. You can use it anywhere in Colorado during that time. After 35 days it expires.

Marriage Ceremony Options

Colorado allows self-solemnization. This means you can marry yourselves without an officiant. No judge or minister is needed. Just sign your license on your wedding day. This option is in C.R.S. 14-2-109.

On your wedding day, fill out the ceremony section of your license. Write the date, time, and place. Both of you sign as the parties to the marriage. That is all you need to do.

If you want a traditional ceremony, you can have one. Judges, magistrates, and clergy can perform weddings in Colorado. Retired judges are also allowed. Your friend or relative cannot sign as the officiant unless they are ordained clergy or a judge.

Witnesses are not required in Colorado. You can have them if you want. There is no age limit. Even children can sign as witnesses if you want them to be part of your ceremony.

After your wedding, return the completed license to Lincoln County within 63 days. You can mail it or drop it off. Anyone can return it for you. Late returns may result in a $20 fee plus $5 per day up to $50 maximum.

License Fees and Certified Copies

The marriage license costs $30 in Lincoln County. This is the same price in all Colorado counties. The fee is set by C.R.S. 14-2-106. You pay when you pick up your license.

After your license is recorded, you can get certified copies. The Lincoln County Clerk charges $1.25 per copy. This is much less than the state charges. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment charges $17 per copy.

Order copies in person or by mail. If you mail your request, include a note with both names and the marriage date. Send a check for the copy fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope to avoid handling fees.

Marriage Records

Marriage certificates are public records in Colorado. Anyone can request a copy. The license application itself is confidential. Only the people on the license can get copies of the application.

To find a marriage record, call the Lincoln County Clerk at (719) 743-2444. Give them the names and the approximate date of marriage. The staff will search their files. Recent records are easy to find. Older records may take longer.

You can also contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Their office is at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South in Denver. Call (303) 692-2000 with questions. They keep a central database of all Colorado marriages.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. This service charges extra fees on top of the state fee. It is faster than mail but costs more.

Nearby Counties

If Lincoln County is not convenient, try another county. All Colorado marriage licenses work statewide. The fee is always $30 no matter where you apply.

Elbert County is west of Lincoln County. The county seat is Kiowa. This is closer to Denver than Hugo. The clerk office there issues marriage licenses for $30.

Kit Carson County is east of Lincoln County. The county seat is Burlington. Their clerk office is at 1650 Donelan Avenue on the second floor. Call (719) 346-8638 and press 2 for recording.

Cheyenne County is northeast of Lincoln County. The county seat is Cheyenne Wells. This is near the Kansas border. The clerk office there follows the same state rules for marriage licenses.