Who Issues Marriage Licenses in Arapahoe County?
Marriage licenses in Arapahoe County are issued by the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder at 5334 S. Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120. Hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. A satellite office at 1690 W. Littleton Blvd, Littleton also serves the area.
Colorado is unique in the US for allowing self-solemnization — couples can legally marry each other without an officiant or witnesses present (CRS §14-2-109). This makes Colorado popular with elopements. However, the 35-day validity window is one of the shortest in the country outside of Oklahoma.
The $30 Fee
Arapahoe County's marriage license fee is $30.00 — the statutory base rate across most Colorado counties. Certified copies cost $17.00 each from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) after the certificate is recorded.
Required Documents — What to Bring
Both applicants must appear together and each bring:
- Valid government-issued photo ID: Driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or other government-issued photo ID. Must not be expired. Foreign passports accepted.
- Social Security Number: Required on the application. Physical card generally not required — just know your number.
- Prior marriage documentation: If either party has been divorced, provide the exact date and state of the divorce. For divorces within the past 6 months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree.
Waiting Period
Colorado has no waiting period. Your license is valid immediately. The critical constraint is the 35-day validity window — one of the shortest in the country. Apply no more than 4 weeks before your ceremony to ensure your license is valid on the wedding day.
Colorado is one of only a few states that allows couples to solemnize their own marriage — meaning you can legally marry each other without an officiant, judge, or minister present. You still need the license, but no third party is required to perform the ceremony. This is the reason Colorado is among the most popular elopement destinations in the US. The self-solemnization option is noted on the Colorado marriage license itself.
License Validity — 35 days
Your Arapahoe County marriage license is valid for 35 days from the date of issue, for ceremonies performed anywhere in Colorado. Plan your application date carefully. Use our expiration calculator and Wedding Date Planner to find your exact window.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant must complete and return the signed marriage license to the Arapahoe County issuing office within the timeframe required by Colorado law (typically 10–30 days). After recording, certified copies of the marriage certificate are available for $17 each. Order at least 4–6 copies — you'll need them for Social Security, driver's license, passport, and bank account name changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Revised Statutes §14-2-109 allows couples to solemnize their own marriage if the license permits it. When applying, check the box for self-solemnization on the application. Both parties then sign the license themselves as their own officiants. No minister, judge, or witnesses are required. The signed license is returned to the county clerk to be recorded.
Rocky Mountain National Park spans Grand and Larimer Counties. If you're eloping in the park, you'd typically apply in Larimer County (Fort Collins) or Grand County (Granby) depending on which entrance you're using. However, any Colorado county license works statewide — you could apply in Arapahoe County and elope in RMNP.
Colorado's 35-day validity is set by statute and cannot be extended. There is no renewal or extension process. If your license expires before your ceremony, you must reapply and pay again. Use our expiration calculator to track your exact window.
Government offices change hours, fees, and appointment policies without always updating their websites. Call the Arapahoe County office directly the day before your visit to confirm current hours, fees, and whether you need an appointment.
Planning Your Visit to the County Clerk and Recorder
The County Clerk and Recorder handles marriage license applications for Arapahoe County. Colorado's $30 fee is one of the lowest nationally. The self-solemnization option eliminates the officiant cost entirely for couples choosing that route.
Colorado's 35-day validity window is unusually short — apply no more than 4 weeks before your ceremony. Colorado uniquely allows self-solemnization: couples can legally marry each other with no officiant present.
Step-by-Step: Application to Certified Copies
Here is the complete sequence for a Arapahoe County marriage license, from the day you apply through receiving certified copies for name changes:
- Gather documents: Both parties need valid, unexpired photo IDs and their Social Security numbers. If either party has been previously married, have the divorce date and state ready (bring a certified decree if divorced within the past 6 months).
- Visit the office: Both parties appear together at the County Clerk and Recorder. The application takes 15–25 minutes. Pay the $30 fee.
- License issued: You receive a physical paper marriage license. Keep it safe — it is the document your officiant will sign after the ceremony.
- Waiting period: None from the moment of issuance. Plan your ceremony date accordingly.
- Ceremony anywhere in Colorado: Your license is valid for ceremonies performed anywhere in Colorado within the 35 days validity window. Your officiant signs immediately after the ceremony.
- Return the license: The signed license must be returned to the issuing office within the timeframe required by Colorado law (typically 10–30 days). Confirm responsibility — you or your officiant.
- Order certified copies: After the marriage is recorded (2–4 weeks post-ceremony), order certified copies from the County Clerk and Recorder or through VitalChek. Order at least 4–6 copies at once.
- Name changes: Use certified copies for Social Security, DMV, passport, and financial accounts. Start with Social Security first — other agencies verify against SSA records. See our name change guide for the complete sequence.
Use our Wedding Date Planner to calculate the exact window for applying in Colorado. Download the Day-Of Checklist PDF to bring to your appointment. Use the Cost Calculator to estimate your total expenses including certified copies and name change fees.