Both parties should apply for a Colorado marriage license at any County Clerk’s office. Counties have a wide range of processes, so check in advance in case you need to make a booking, prefer an online booking or if you can just turn up. The marriage license is valid Immediately and for the next 35 days.

Applicants must show valid identification, such as a US driver’s license or non driver ID card or a US passport along with their SSN.

Applicants do not need to be Colorado residents, however the license is only valid for marriages conducted within Colorado.

Expect to pay about $30 for your marriage license. After the ceremony, the license and certificate must be returned to the county recorder within 63 days of marriage or your wedding will not be considered valid.

The person conducting the wedding 63 days file the completed marriage license with the recorder in the county where it was issued.

Order a copy of your marriage license from the county recorder for about $1 each. We recommend getting certified copies of your license for an additional $1.

Most counties allow for walk in service. Many also have online ordering systems. Fees vary between counties, but you can expect to pay around $15-$20 for the first copy. Locate your county registrar or recorder here. It is not recommended to order from California Dept. of Health Vital Records as wait times can be up to six months.

Your new name must first be recorded with the SSA. We recommend waiting 30 days from when your marriage license was filed with the county so the SSA has the best chance to cross reference your records. Start the process online at https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name

If your identity and marriage can be confirmed online your name may be changed on the spot. If not, you will be directed to complete your application in person at an SSA location. You will also be instructed what original proof documents to take. 

Yay! You’ve now confirmed that your name change has been successful with the SSA.  Now it’s time to make an online booking with the Colorado DMV through myDMV. 

Name changes are done by renewing your CO driver’s license. Attend your booking with the following:

• Current CO driver’s license
• The official marriage certificate (church certificates are not accepted)
• Proof of address document (computer generated bill, bank statement, first class mail sent by a government agency, home/car insurance policy notice)
• Renewal fee (just over $30)

Once your Colorado driver’s license is issued in your new name, attend your county motor vehicle office in person. Take the following documents:

• Marriage certificate
• The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and/or Colorado title number. This is all on the vehicle title.
• Secure and verifiable ID (eg: CO driver’s license)
• $8.20 duplicate title fee

The form needs you to sign off on the title as the seller and then sign on as the buyer.

If either your passport issue date or wedding was more than 12 months ago, then you will need to pay full passport renewal fees of $130 for a passport book and $30 for a passport card. There is no credit given for time remaining in your passport. Complete form DS-82 at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

If both your wedding and passport issue date are less than 12 months, you can get a free passport replacement. 

The Colorado DMV is pretty flexible when it comes to your new married name. You do not need to state your preferred married name on your Colorado marriage license when you first start the process.

Be sure you get the name right with the SSA, as Colorado DMV will only allow a name that is an exact match. 

The good news though is that the Colorado DMV allows either spouse to take the following married names:

• Drop your surname and take your spouse’s
• Add your spouse’s surname to your own (in either order)
• Move your pre-married surname to become a middle name (either replace your middle name, or make it your second middle name)