Marriage License Tips
Wedding planning can be A LOT! Whether you’re eloping or doing the whole shebang, there is one thing that usually gets overlooked: getting your marriage license and making sure it gets signed and turned in. You might be thinking that you have no idea where to start, but don’t worry! You are in the right place! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get, sign, and mail off your marriage certificate.
Photo by PJ Van Photo
5-step guide for getting your marriage license.
What is a marriage license, and why do I need it?
A marriage license is what makes you married in the eyes of the government (the county, state, and country) for taxes and things. Just like a driver’s license it is a government document. You must sign it within 35 days of getting married (the ceremony).
Take a minute to think about if you want the certificate to say the county you are getting married in or the county you live in. Some people have destination weddings here in beautiful La Plata County, and they want their certificate to show that. Others choose to get their certificate at home so it says their home county and/or they don’t want to haul it with them to their wedding. If you are worried about losing it among the candles and dresses, you can totally just sign it in the courthouse and give it back to them. Or you can bring it to your wedding ceremony and use it as a photo opportunity.
2. Where do I get my license, and how much does it cost?
In La Plata County (if you're in Durango), it costs $30, and you can obtain the license at the County Clerk’s office. To make the process go as smoothly as possible, both of you should go together and have a valid photo ID. If one of you is not able to make it, you will need to fill out special paperwork.
You can go to your local County Clerk’s Office and get it as well. It is typically very quick, but if you live in a larger city, make sure you make an appointment. Depending on your local laws you might have to take a blood test to make sure you aren’t related, though this is not required in Colorado.
3. Who needs to sign it?
In Colorado, you have three options to actually “get married”:
A Judge or Magistrate can perform the ceremony
A person of the cloth (i.e. a Deacon, Minister, Priest, etc)
You can sign the license as the officiant and the bride/groom (so just the two of you are required to sign it because you fulfill both parties).
Your license will come with instructions that are pretty simple; just make sure you follow them, and you’ll be all good. (TIP: read them before you pull them out to do the photo opportunity, as your brain isn’t usually fully functioning after you had a glass of champagne). You will need two witnesses to sign it. In Colorado, you can have your dog witness your license by inking their paw on the line. How cute?!
In other states, you will need to check their laws about who needs to sign it. Either way, it is always an option to sign it at the courthouse and immediately give it back to them. People just bring it to their ceremony for pictures, for its importance, or because they want to.
4. We are getting our license in Durango; give us the details
Here is a link to the La Plata County Marriage License page as well as an FAQ page. Here is the address for the County Clerk’s Office. They are closed on Fridays!
5. We signed it, now what?
Your license should come with instructions on what address to mail it to. Once you’ve signed it, you can give it to your officiant or your parents (whoever you trust), or keep it and mail it off after you are out of the wedding-day fog of bliss.
Once the County Clerk’s Office receives and processes it, you are legally married in the eyes of the government. CONGRATS!
Photo by Evie Joy Photography
