Rio Blanco County Marriage License Search

Rio Blanco County marriage licenses are issued at the Clerk and Recorder office in Meeker.

Where to Get Your License

Rio Blanco County is a rural area in northwest Colorado. The county seat is Meeker, and that's where you go to get a marriage license. Rangely is the only other sizable town in the county. No matter where you live in Rio Blanco County, the Meeker clerk office is your only local option.

The Clerk and Recorder office handles all marriage licenses. Both people must show up in person to apply. Bring valid ID like a driver's license or passport. The clerk will give you an application form to fill out. Once you complete it and pay the $30 fee, they issue the license immediately. Colorado has no waiting period, so you can use it right away.

Call ahead to confirm hours before making the trip. Rio Blanco County is remote, and the nearest other clerk offices are in Garfield County and Moffat County. It's smart to check that someone will be available to help you when you arrive.

What You Need

Each person needs to bring identification. A current driver's license works best. State ID cards, passports, and military IDs are also accepted. The ID must show your photo, full name, and date of birth. If your license has a black stripe saying "Not valid for federal identification," ask the clerk if they will accept it. Policies vary by county.

You don't need a birth certificate unless you lack photo ID. If you do bring one, it must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies won't work. For people born outside the U.S., bring your passport.

The application form asks for details required by C.R.S. 14-2-105. You 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. The clerk has the form.

You also list your parents' names and addresses. This is required by state law. Fill in what you know. If you were married before, provide details about when and where that marriage ended. Bring your divorce decree or death certificate if you have one.

Marrying Yourself in Colorado

Colorado allows couples to marry themselves without an officiant. This is called self-solemnization and is authorized by 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.

When you get your license in Rio Blanco County, tell the clerk if you plan to self-solemnize. They will explain how to fill out the 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.

Witnesses are not required. You can have them if you want, but Colorado law does not mandate witness signatures. After the ceremony, return the completed certificate to the county where the ceremony occurred within 63 days. If you're late, you may pay a fee of $20 plus $5 per day up to $50 total.

Age and Residency Rules

You must be at least 18 to marry in Rio Blanco County without restrictions. If you are 16 or 17, you need a court order from a juvenile judge. Parental consent is not an option. Colorado law changed in 2019, and judicial approval is the only way for minors to marry. No one under 16 can marry in Colorado.

There is no residency requirement. You don't need to live in Colorado to get a license here. The license is valid anywhere in Colorado for 35 days. After that, it expires and you would need to apply for a new one.

Certain marriages are prohibited under C.R.S. 14-2-110. You can't marry if you're already married. You can't marry close blood relatives like parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews. Marriage between first cousins is legal in Colorado.

Where the License Works

A marriage license from Rio Blanco County is valid statewide. You can get it in Meeker and have your ceremony in Denver, Boulder, or anywhere else in Colorado. The license works throughout the state but not outside Colorado. If you want to marry in another state, you need a license from that state.

Use the license within 35 days of issue. After your ceremony, the completed certificate must be returned to the county where the ceremony took place. If you marry in Rio Blanco County, return it to the Meeker clerk office. If you marry elsewhere in Colorado, return it to that county.

Recording and Certified Copies

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

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

Finding an Officiant

If you want a traditional ceremony, judges and magistrates from the 9th Judicial District can perform civil ceremonies. Contact the Rio Blanco County Court to ask about availability and fees. Religious officiants from any denomination can perform marriages in Colorado. They don't need to register. Clergy from other states can perform Colorado marriages.

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

Legal Resources

For questions about marriage licenses, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords. For legal advice, Colorado Legal Services offers free help to low-income residents. To change your name, contact the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov and the Colorado DMV at dmv.colorado.gov.

Nearby Clerk Offices

If Rio Blanco County is not convenient, consider these nearby options:

• Moffat County - Clerk office in Craig
• Garfield County - Clerk office in Glenwood Springs
• Routt County - Clerk office in Steamboat Springs