Civil Union Licenses

Requirements

In accordance with the requirements below, a license for Civil Unions in Colorado may be obtained from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Office of the Routt County Clerk and Recorder. The License is valid upon receipt, and must be used within 35 days in the State of Colorado.  After Colorado legalized gay marriage in 2014 and a 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalized gay marriage nationwide, Civil Unions are uncommon.  Most couples choose to obtain a Marriage License.

An appointment is required.  Please call our office at 970-870-5556 to set a date and time when the both of you can come in.  

The fee is $30.00 as of May 1, 2013. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted.

A license issued by another state should not be signed in Colorado.  A license issued in Colorado must be signed in Colorado.  

Age

The age requirements for both parties are the same:
  • 18 and older - no parental or judicial consent is required
  • Younger than 18 - Judicial approval or court order is required - No Exceptions

Identification

 Valid and current government-issued identification must be furnished by both parties.
Example: passport, birth certificate, drivers license, military I.D., etc.

    Application


    Both parties must complete and sign the civil union application form. At least one of the parties must apply in person before the clerk. If one of the parties cannot appear in person, he or she must complete an affidavit received from the county clerk's office with their signature notarized. Parties already married in another state may obtain a license by stating that they are married to each other. Applicants for a civil union license need not be Colorado residents.

    An online civil union application can be found by following this path: 
    * Start at the Clerk and Recorder home page.
    * Click on Recorded Documents in the blue bar.
    * Click on Records Search under the page heading Records Search.
    * When it asks you to log in, click on the grey box that says Login as Guest.
    * Accept the disclaimer.
    * Under where it says What Would You Like to Do Today, click on Begin Online Civil Union Process.
    * All fields in red are required fields as well as parental information (if known) and divorce information (if applicable).

    Ceremony

    Parties may certify their own civil union (C.R.S. 14-15-112). Others who can certify a civil union are a judge of a court, by a district court magistrate, a county court magistrate, a retired judge, the parties to the civil union or in accordance with any mode of recognition of a civil union by any religious denomination or Indian Nation or tribe. Clergy from out-of-state need not be registered in Colorado.

    License

    The person certifying the civil union shall complete the civil union certificate and return it to the County Clerk and Recorder within sixty-three days after certifying (signing at the ceremony). Any person who fails to return the civil union certificate to the County Clerk and Recorder's office shall be required to pay a $20 late fee and an additional five dollar late fee may be assessed for each additional day of failure up to a maximum of $50.

    Witnesses

    Witnesses are not required in the State of Colorado. Some clergy, judge or public official may request them.