Find Marriage License in Otero County
Otero County Clerk and Recorder in La Junta handles marriage licenses for couples in southeast Colorado.
Otero County Quick Facts
Otero County Clerk and Recorder
The Clerk and Recorder office in La Junta issues marriage licenses for Otero County. La Junta is in southeast Colorado along Highway 50. The town is about two and a half hours from Denver and an hour from Pueblo.
Both people must show up together to apply. Bring your IDs and $30 for the fee. The staff will help you fill out the application. Most visits take less than 30 minutes. You get your license the same day.
| Office | Otero County Clerk and Recorder |
|---|---|
| Location | County Courthouse La Junta, CO |
| Fee | $30.00 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday (call ahead to confirm) |
| Payment | Cash, check, or credit card accepted |
Marriage License Requirements
Otero County follows Colorado state law for marriage licenses. You must be at least 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17, you need a court order signed by a judge. No one under 16 can marry in Colorado.
Bring a valid photo ID to the clerk office. Your driver license is best. A passport works too. So does a state ID card. Make sure your ID is not expired.
You need your Social Security number. The clerk only asks for the last four digits. If you do not have one, sign an affidavit. The clerk will provide this form.
The application asks for your parents' names and addresses. If you were married before, list when that marriage ended. This can be a divorce date or death date.
Applying for Your License
Walk into the Otero County Clerk office during business hours. Tell the staff you need a marriage license. They will give you an application form. You can fill it out there or bring a completed form if you found it online.
The form asks for basic information. Your full names, birth dates, and places of birth go at the top. List your current addresses. Write your parents' names if you know them. If you were married before, include when that marriage ended.
Hand in your form with both IDs. The clerk will check everything and type up your license. You get it right away. Pay the $30 fee before you leave.
Your license is valid for 35 days from issue date per C.R.S. 14-2-107. You can use it anywhere in Colorado during that time.
Wedding Ceremony Options
Colorado allows self-solemnization. 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. Witnesses are not required but you can have them if you want.
If you prefer a traditional ceremony, you can have one. Judges, magistrates, and clergy can all 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 with legal authority.
After your ceremony, return the completed license to Otero County within 63 days. Mail it or drop it off in person. 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 Otero County. This is the same price in all Colorado counties. The fee is set by C.R.S. 14-2-106.
After your license is recorded, you can order certified copies. The Otero County Clerk charges $1.25 per copy. This is much cheaper 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 under state law.
To find a marriage record in Otero County, contact the Clerk and Recorder office. Give them the names of both people and the approximate date of marriage. The staff will search their files.
You can also contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 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.
Other Counties Nearby
If Otero County is not convenient, try another county. All Colorado marriage licenses work statewide. The fee is always $30.
Pueblo County is northwest of Otero County. The city of Pueblo has a clerk office. Call (719) 583-6507 for information. Pueblo is about an hour from La Junta.
Las Animas County is west of Otero County. The county seat is Trinidad. This is near the New Mexico border. The clerk office there issues marriage licenses for $30.
Bent County is east of Otero County. The county seat is Las Animas (the town, not the county). The clerk office there follows the same state rules for marriage licenses.