Teller County Marriage License Search

Teller County Clerk and Recorder

Teller County is located west of Colorado Springs in the mountains. The official county seat is Cripple Creek, but the clerk office is in Woodland Park at the Tamarac Business Center. The physical address is 800 Research Drive, Suite 200, Woodland Park. Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license. Walk-in business only. No appointments are needed.

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 immediately. Colorado has no waiting period. You can use the license right away. It's valid for 35 days from the date of issue.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The office is closed for lunch from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Plan your visit accordingly. The license works anywhere in Colorado. After your ceremony, the signed certificate must be returned to the county where the ceremony took place within 63 days.

Application Requirements

The application form asks for information required by C.R.S. 14-2-105. You provide your full legal 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 can sign an affidavit instead. The clerk has the form.

The form also asks about your parents. You must list their full names and addresses if known. This is a state requirement and not optional. Fill in what you can. If you don't know certain details, the clerk may work with you. If either person was married before, provide information about how that marriage ended. Bring your divorce decree or death certificate if you have it.

No blood test is required in Teller County or anywhere in Colorado. This requirement was dropped many years ago. There is also no waiting period. Once your application is approved and the fee is paid, you get your license right away. You can use it immediately.

Self-Solemnization Option

Colorado 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 Teller County choose this option for private mountain ceremonies.

When you get your license, 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, though you can have them if you want.

After the ceremony, return the completed certificate to Teller County within 63 days. You can mail it to the mailing address or drop it off in person at the Woodland Park office. If you are late, you may pay a $20 late fee plus $5 per day up to a maximum of $50 total. Self-solemnization does not mean anyone can officiate. Only the couple themselves can do this.

Age and Legal Rules

You must be at least 18 years old to marry in Teller 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 do not need to live in Colorado to get a license here. Many couples come from other states to marry in the Teller County 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.

Where You Can Use Your License

A marriage license from Teller County is valid throughout Colorado. Get it in Woodland Park 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. 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.

Recording and Certified Copies

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 Teller 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.

Finding an Officiant

If you prefer a traditional ceremony with an officiant, you have several options. Judges and magistrates from the 4th Judicial District can perform civil ceremonies. Contact the Teller 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 or county. Clergy from other states can perform Colorado marriages.

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 to Teller County within 63 days.

Additional Resources

For questions 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 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 County Options

If Teller County is not convenient, consider these nearby clerk offices:

• El Paso County - Clerk office in Colorado Springs
• Park County - Clerk offices in Fairplay and Bailey
• Fremont County - Clerk office in Canon City

You can get a marriage license from any Colorado county. Choose the location that works best for your schedule and plans.