Search Pueblo County Marriage License

Marriage license applications in Pueblo County are handled at the Clerk and Recorder office, serving the city of Pueblo and surrounding areas.

Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder

Pueblo County is one of the larger counties in southern Colorado with a population over 168,000. The Clerk and Recorder office handles marriage licenses for residents of Pueblo, Avondale, Boone, Rye, and all other communities in the county. The office is located at the county courthouse in downtown Pueblo. Phone ahead at 719-583-6507 to confirm hours and ask any questions before you visit.

Both people must appear in person to apply. Bring valid ID such as a driver's license or passport. The clerk will review your documents and have you fill out an application form. The fee is $30, which you can pay with cash, check, or card. Once everything is complete, the clerk issues your license immediately. There is no waiting period in Colorado.

The license is valid for 35 days from the date of issue. You can use it anywhere in Colorado during that time. After your ceremony, the signed certificate must be returned to the county where the ceremony took place. If you marry in Pueblo County, return it to this clerk office. If you get the license here but marry elsewhere in Colorado, return it to that county.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

The application asks for information required by C.R.S. 14-2-105. You need to provide your full name, date of birth, place of birth, current address, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you don't have a Social Security Number, you sign an affidavit stating that. The clerk has the form.

You also list your parents' full names and addresses. This is a state requirement and not optional. If you don't know some of this information, fill in what you can. The clerk may be able to work with you if there are legitimate gaps.

If you were married before, provide details. The form asks when and where that marriage ended, whether by divorce or death. Bring your divorce decree or death certificate if you have it. This is not always required, but it can speed up the process. The clerk needs to verify you are legally free to remarry.

No blood test is required in Colorado. This requirement was dropped many years ago. You also don't wait after applying. Once the clerk approves your application and you pay the fee, they give you the license right away. You can use it the same day.

Colorado Self-Solemnization

Colorado law allows couples to marry themselves without an officiant. This is set out in C.R.S. 14-2-109. You don't need a judge, minister, or anyone else to perform the ceremony. Just the two of you can sign the certificate and the marriage is legal.

When you pick up your license in Pueblo County, tell the clerk if you plan to self-solemnize. They will explain how to complete the marriage certificate. On your wedding day, both of you sign in the officiant section. Write "The Parties to the Marriage" as the title. Then sign in the party signature sections as well.

Witnesses are not required in Colorado. You can have witnesses if you want, but the law does not mandate them. Some couples like to include family or friends as witnesses for sentimental reasons. If you do have witnesses, they sign on the witness lines, but this is optional.

After the ceremony, return the completed certificate to the county where the ceremony occurred within 63 days. You can mail it or drop it off in person. If you are late, there is a fee. The base late fee is $20, and it can go up to $50 total if you are many days late. Send it back within a week or two to avoid any issues.

Self-solemnization does not mean anyone can officiate. Only the couple can do this. Your friend or relative cannot sign as the officiant unless they are legally authorized, such as being a judge, magistrate, or ordained clergy.

Age and Legal Requirements

You must be 18 or older to marry in Pueblo County without restrictions. If you are 16 or 17, you need a court order from a juvenile court judge. Parental consent alone is not enough. Colorado law changed in 2019, and judicial approval is now the only way for anyone under 18 to marry. These court orders are difficult to get.

No one under 16 can marry in Colorado. This was established by House Bill 19-1316. Before this law, younger teens could marry with parental and judicial consent, but that is no longer allowed.

There is no residency requirement. You do not need to live in Pueblo County or even in Colorado to get a license here. Many couples come from other states or countries. The license is valid anywhere within Colorado for 35 days.

Certain marriages are prohibited under C.R.S. 14-2-110. You cannot marry if you are already married. All previous marriages must be legally ended. You cannot marry close blood relatives like parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews. Marriage between first cousins is legal in Colorado.

Recording Your Marriage

Once your ceremony is done and the certificate is signed, it must be filed with the county clerk for recording. This is what makes the marriage official. The clerk enters the information into the state vital records system. You can then order certified copies.

Certified copies cost $1.25 each from the county. If you order from the state, it costs $17. County copies are usually faster. Order several copies when you first record the marriage. You will need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other purposes. Many people order five or more copies right away.

If you need copies later, you can always get them from Pueblo County or from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Marriage certificates are permanent records.

Finding an Officiant in Pueblo

If you want a traditional ceremony with an officiant, you have options. Judges and magistrates from the 10th Judicial District can perform civil ceremonies. Contact the Pueblo County Court to ask about availability and fees.

Religious officiants from any denomination can perform marriages in Colorado. They do not need to register with the state. Clergy from other states can perform Colorado marriages. Just make sure they know to sign the certificate correctly and return it within 63 days.

Friends or family can become ordained online through services like the Universal Life Church. Colorado recognizes these ordinations. Once ordained, they can legally perform your ceremony.

Additional Resources

For questions about marriage licenses, visit the Colorado vital records website at cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords. They have forms, FAQs, and contact information.

For legal advice, Colorado Legal Services offers free help to low-income residents. Private family law attorneys can also answer questions. The Colorado Bar Association has a lawyer referral service.

To change your name, contact the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov and the Colorado DMV at dmv.colorado.gov. Both require a certified marriage certificate.

Cities in Pueblo County

Pueblo County includes the city of Pueblo, which has over 111,000 residents. Other communities include Avondale, Boone, Rye, Colorado City, and Vineland. All residents get their marriage licenses from the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder.

Nearby County Offices

If Pueblo County is not convenient, consider these nearby options:

• Fremont County - Clerk office in Canon City
• Huerfano County - Clerk office in Walsenburg
• Otero County - Clerk office in La Junta
• Crowley County - Clerk office in Ordway