Access Yuma County Marriage License

Yuma County marriage licenses come from the Clerk and Recorder office in Wray.

Yuma County Clerk and Recorder

Yuma County is located in the northeast corner of Colorado, bordering both Kansas and Nebraska. The county seat is Wray, and that's where you get a marriage license. Both parties must appear in person at the Clerk and Recorder office. The office is at the county courthouse. Hours are typically Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Call ahead to confirm before making the trip.

Bring valid ID such as a driver's license or passport. Each person needs one form of identification. The clerk will give you an application form to fill out. Once you complete it 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.

The license works anywhere in Colorado. You can get it in Wray and have your ceremony in Denver, Boulder, or any other Colorado location. After your ceremony, the signed certificate must be returned to the county where the ceremony took place within 63 days. If you marry in Yuma County, return it to the Wray office. If you marry elsewhere, return it to that county.

What to Bring and Provide

Each person needs valid identification. A 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. 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. If you don't know certain details, fill in what you can. If either person was married before, provide information about how that marriage ended. The form asks for the date of divorce or death, the location, and any case numbers. Bring your divorce decree or death certificate if you have it.

No blood test is required in Yuma 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 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. You don't need a judge, minister, or any other person to perform the ceremony. Just the two of you can sign the marriage certificate and it's legal.

When you pick up your license in Yuma County, tell the clerk if you plan to self-solemnize. They will give you instructions on 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 Yuma County within 63 days. You can mail it or drop it off at the clerk office in Wray. If you are late, you may pay a late 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 of your ceremony to avoid any fees.

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 Rules

You must be at least 18 years old to marry in Yuma 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. The license is valid anywhere in Colorado for 35 days but not outside the state. If you want to marry in another state, you need a license from that state.

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

Where You Can Use the License

A marriage license from Yuma County is valid throughout Colorado. Get it in Wray and marry anywhere in the state. The license does not work outside Colorado. 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 for recording.

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 Yuma 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 Yuma 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

If you prefer a traditional ceremony with an officiant, you have several options. Judges and magistrates from the 13th Judicial District can perform civil ceremonies. Contact the Yuma 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 Yuma 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 Yuma County is not convenient, consider these nearby clerk offices:

• Washington County - Clerk office in Akron
• Phillips County - Clerk office in Holyoke
• Kit Carson County - Clerk office in Burlington
• Sedgwick County - Clerk office in Julesburg

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