Find Marriage License in Routt County

Routt County issues marriage licenses at the Clerk and Recorder office, serving Steamboat Springs and surrounding mountain areas.

Routt County Clerk Office

Routt County is a popular destination for mountain weddings. Steamboat Springs attracts couples from around the world. The Clerk and Recorder office handles all marriage license applications for the county. Appointments are required. You cannot walk in without an appointment. Call ahead or check the county website to schedule your visit.

Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Both people must appear in person to apply. Bring valid ID like a driver's license or passport. The clerk will give you an application form to complete. Once you fill it out and pay the $30 fee, they issue your license. Colorado has no waiting period. You can use the license right away.

The license is valid for 35 days from the date of issue. Plan your ceremony within that time frame. After your wedding, the completed certificate must be returned to Routt County within 63 days. The person who performed the ceremony usually handles this, but if you self-solemnize, it's your responsibility.

How to Apply

The application form asks for information required by C.R.S. 14-2-105. You provide your full legal name, date and 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.

The form also asks about your parents. You must list their full names and addresses if known. This is required by Colorado law and not optional. If you don't know certain details, fill in what you can. The clerk may work with you if there are legitimate gaps.

If either person was married before, provide details about how that marriage ended. The form asks for the date of divorce or death, the location of the court or event, and any case numbers. Bring your divorce decree or death certificate if you have it. This helps the clerk verify you are legally free to remarry.

No blood test is required. This used to be common but the law changed long ago. There is also no waiting period in Colorado. Once your application is approved and the fee is paid, you receive your license immediately.

Self-Solemnization in Colorado

Colorado is one of the few states that allows couples to marry themselves without an officiant. This is called self-solemnization and is authorized by C.R.S. 14-2-109. Many couples in Routt County choose this option so they can have private ceremonies in scenic mountain locations.

When you get your license, tell the clerk 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. After the ceremony, return the completed certificate to Routt County within 63 days. You can mail it or drop it off. If you're late, you may pay a $20 late fee plus $5 per day up to a maximum of $50.

Self-solemnization does not mean anyone can officiate. Only the couple themselves 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 religious leader.

Age and Legal Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old to marry in Routt County without restrictions. If you are 16 or 17, you need a court order from a juvenile judge. Parental consent alone is not enough. Colorado law changed in 2019 with House Bill 19-1316. Judicial approval is now the only way for minors to marry, and these orders are rarely granted. 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. Many couples come from other states or countries to marry in the Steamboat Springs area. The license is valid anywhere in Colorado for 35 days.

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

Proxy Marriage Rules

Colorado allows proxy marriages in limited situations. One party must be a Colorado resident. One party must be in the armed forces stationed abroad or a government contractor supporting military operations. Both must be 18 or older. Self-solemnization is not allowed for proxy marriages. If you need a proxy marriage, contact the Routt County Clerk office for specific requirements and forms.

Where You Can Use Your License

A marriage license from Routt County is valid throughout Colorado. Get it in Steamboat Springs and marry anywhere in the state. The license does not work outside Colorado. If you want to marry in another state, you need a license from that state.

The 35-day validity period starts the day the license is issued. Use it before it expires. After your ceremony, the completed certificate must be returned to the county where the ceremony took place. If you marry in Routt County, return it here. If you get the license here but marry in another Colorado county, return it to that county.

Recording Your Marriage

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

Certified copies cost $1.25 each from Routt County. If you order from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, it costs $17 for the first copy. County copies are usually processed faster. Order several copies when you first record the marriage. You need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal purposes. Many people order five or more copies right away.

If you need copies later, you can always get them from Routt County or from the state vital records office. Marriage certificates are permanent records. The application form with personal details like Social Security Numbers is confidential under Colorado law, but the recorded certificate is public.

Finding an Officiant in Steamboat Springs

If you prefer a traditional ceremony with an officiant, you have several options. Judges and magistrates from the 14th Judicial District can perform civil ceremonies. Contact the Routt 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 understand they need to sign the certificate correctly and return it to Routt County within 63 days.

Friends or family members can become ordained online through services like the Universal Life Church. Colorado recognizes these online ordinations. Once ordained, they can legally perform your ceremony. Make sure they know how to complete the marriage certificate and return it on time.

Additional Resources

For general information about marriage licenses in Colorado, visit the state 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 about marriage, prenuptial agreements, and related topics.

To change your name after marriage, contact the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov first. Once your Social Security card is updated, go to the Colorado DMV at dmv.colorado.gov to change your name on your driver's license. Both agencies require a certified marriage certificate to process name changes.

Nearby Mountain County Options

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

• Moffat County - Clerk office in Craig
• Jackson County - Clerk office in Walden
• Grand County - Clerk office in Hot Sulphur Springs
• Eagle County - Clerk office in Eagle

You can get a marriage license from any Colorado county. Choose the location that fits your plans best.