Who Handles Denver Marriage and Divorce Records
Denver splits these two records between two offices. The Denver Clerk and Recorder, led by Paul D. López, issues marriage and civil union licenses and keeps the recorded license on file. The office does not process or store dissolutions. Divorce and dissolution cases sit with Denver District Court as domestic relations matters.
To reach the Clerk and Recorder on marriage questions, call 720-865-8699 or email marriages@denvergov.org. The office is at 200 W. 14th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204, and in-person services are by appointment only. Online records and the marriage application live on the Kofile CountyFusion portal.
The Kofile CountyFusion login screen below is the public gateway used by the Denver Clerk and Recorder for the online marriage application and online records search. 
No login or account is required to start an application, which keeps the first step low friction for couples.
Note: Court clerks at Denver District, County, Probate, and Juvenile Court are separate from the elected Clerk and Recorder. Do not send a divorce records request to the marriages email.
How to Apply for a Denver Marriage License
The Clerk and Recorder lays out a clear path from application to recorded license. Both partners take part. Plan ahead since appointments fill fast.
- Read the official marriage license requirements page from the Denver Clerk and Recorder.
- Complete the online marriage or civil union application through CountyFusion/Kofile. No login is needed.
- Schedule an in-person or online appointment up to seven days in advance.
- Arrive with both partners present, valid ID for each party, and payment.
- Sign the license after the ceremony in Colorado within 35 days of issue.
- Return the signed license to the Clerk and Recorder by mail or by drop box near 14th Avenue and Bannock Street.
- Make sure the office gets the completed license within 63 days to avoid late fees.
Online Marriage Application Process
The Denver Clerk and Recorder runs online ceremonies through Microsoft Teams. Couples can apply, book, and sign without setting foot in the office, but the rules are strict on location.
Both parties must be inside Colorado. Both must sit in the same room, on the same screen, at the same time. A device with internet, video, camera, speakers, and a microphone is required. The signed license is mailed to a Colorado address after the ceremony.
If the wedding is within two weeks, the office suggests booking the in-person path. Mail delivery cannot be guaranteed in that short window, and a missing license at the venue can stall the day.
Required Information and ID for Denver Marriage License
The marriage application asks for facts about both parties, the planned ceremony, and any prior marriages. ID rules are tight. Below is what each party must bring or supply.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Date of marriage | Yes | Plan the ceremony within 35 days of license issue. |
| Where in Colorado marriage will occur | Yes | City or county within Colorado. |
| Prior divorce or spouse death date and place | If applicable | Need exact date and location. |
| Relationship if related by blood | If applicable | Disclose any blood relation. |
| City and state where each party's parents were born | Yes | Both mother and father for each applicant. |
| Social Security Number | If applicant has one | An affidavit form may be used when no SSN exists. |
| Valid photo ID | Yes | U.S. driver license or permit, U.S. state ID, U.S. military ID, or passport in English or with certified translation. |
Birth certificates, baptismal records, and foreign consular IDs are not primary ID at the counter. A birth certificate can back up date of birth, but only when paired with a valid government-issued photo ID from the list above.
Denver Marriage License and Civil Union Fees
Fees are set by the Clerk and Recorder and by state rules. The big charge is the license itself. The rest covers copies, recording, and late returns. A 2.5% service fee applies to card payments as of May 1, 2025.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage or civil union license | $30 |
| Committed partnership license | $25 |
| License or application copy (plain) | $0.25 |
| License or application certified copy | $1.25 |
| Recording within 63 days | Free |
| Late return after 63 days | $20 plus $5 each added day, up to $50 |
| Certified copies, first page then each added page | $1.25 then $0.25 |
| Certified recorded documents online | $1 per document plus $0.25 per page |
| Credit or debit card service fee | 2.5% |
The Denver document recording page details how the office handles recording for marriage licenses and other instruments. 
It also lays out eRecording, mail, and in-person submission paths used by title firms and couples returning a signed license.
Colorado Marriage Rules
State law sets a light touch on who can marry and how. Couples often get a license the same day with no extra steps. A few hard limits still apply.
- No blood tests are required.
- No waiting period applies.
- Applicants do not need to be Colorado residents.
- Witnesses are not required, though two may attend.
- Self-solemnization is allowed, but a proxy marriage cannot be self-solemnized.
Officiants can be ordained or recognized clergy, judges, retired judges, magistrates, public officials with solemnization power, Native American tribal officials, or ordained friends or relatives. Paw prints on the license are not allowed, despite the local lore.
Denver Divorce and Dissolution Records
Denver District Court hears divorce and dissolution cases as domestic relations matters. The Clerk and Recorder does not keep these files. Colorado is a no-fault dissolution state, so most requests focus on the decree and supporting orders rather than fault findings.
To request records, use the state Colorado Judicial record request form, email denverdcrecordsrequest@judicial.state.co.us, or mail Attn: Records Dept., 1437 Bannock St., Room 256, Denver, CO 80202. Certified verification of a divorce can come from the Colorado Office of Vital Records or from Denver District Court itself. If the applicant divorced within 30 days before applying for a new marriage license, a certified copy of the divorce decree must be shown.
The state record request form lists Family Matters checkboxes for the documents most people need: Divorce Decree, Parenting Plan, Separation Agreement, Support Order, and Petition. The Denver District Court Pro Se/Self-Help Center helps self-represented parties with DR case procedure.
Note: Suppressed or sealed DR cases may need extra ID or a court order. Protected information such as Social Security numbers and minor children's identifying data is redacted before release.
Marriage and Civil Union Stats
The Denver Clerk and Recorder publishes marriage and civil union statistics and notes on historical records. 
Yearly counts, civil union totals, and prior decade trends help researchers and reporters track demand at the office.
For older records, the page also flags where historical archives live and how to confirm a long-past marriage on file with the recorder.
Public Access for Denver Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage licenses recorded by the Clerk and Recorder are public records and may be searched through the office or its online tools. Divorce records are court records and follow different rules.
Access to court files is governed by Chief Justice Directive CJD 05-01 and by the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq. Sensitive items, including SSNs and certain financial fields, are redacted before release. For general public records guidance, see the state CORA overview from the Secretary of State.