Adams County Marriage Records Search

How to Apply for an Adams County Marriage License

The Adams County Clerk & Recorder Recording Department issues every marriage and civil union license used in the county. The office sits at the Government Center on Adams County Parkway in Brighton, not at the Justice Center. The court clerk does not handle marriage licensing. The Clerk & Recorder page makes that split clear. It directs divorce and court paperwork to the Justice Center at 303-659-1161.

Adams County requires the online application to be done first. Walk-in applications are not the standard path. Couples should plan to schedule the appointment two to three weeks before the ceremony date. A Bennett location appointment can be booked at 720-523-6020. Both applicants must show up in person on the day of the appointment with valid ID. The application from another county will not be accepted by the Adams County office.

1. Complete the Adams County online marriage license application. Every field is required, including full parents' information for both applicants.
2. Save the 7-digit Order or Transaction number that the system generates. The number is required to book the appointment.
3. Schedule the appointment online at the Recording Department in Brighton or at the Bennett location.
4. Both applicants appear in person at the Government Center at 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite E2400, on time and with the transaction number.
5. Each applicant brings a current government-issued ID. The clerk verifies identity and date of birth.
6. Both parties swear and sign under oath that the application data is true. The clerk issues the license with the certificate page attached.

Note: The license and the certificate appear together on the same form and must not be separated before the ceremony.

Adams County Marriage License Requirements

Colorado law sets a short list of rules for who can get a license and what must be shown at the counter. Adams County applies those rules through the Recording Department. The basic items below come straight from the county page.

• Proof of identity and date of birth for each applicant. Acceptable IDs include a current driver's license, passport, military ID, or state-issued ID card.
• Legal age is 18. Applicants ages 16 and 17 must bring a court order under C.R.S. 14-2-106(I), regardless of parental consent.
• Under-16 marriages are barred by HB19-1316. No court order will cure that age bar.
• An applicant without a Social Security number signs an affidavit at the counter. The SSN field is otherwise required.
• Prior marriage or civil union end date, city, and state are required if either party was previously married or partnered. Widowed applicants give the date, city, and state of the spouse's death.
• An absent applicant must complete a notarized absentee affidavit. The appearing party brings the affidavit and the absent party's ID or a copy.

Applicants do not need to be Colorado residents. No blood test is required. Witness signatures are not required, though a witness may sign if the couple wants one. The license may be issued by any Colorado county and used anywhere in the state. Once a license leaves Colorado, it is no longer valid for use.

Adams County Marriage License Application Fields

The county's online form asks for every piece of data shown in the table below. Each field must be filled in. The Recording Department flags missing parent information as a non-negotiable state requirement. Couples often slow down at that step. Pulling parent names, birthplaces, and dates ahead of time saves a return trip.

Marriage License Fees and Search Fees

The Adams County Recording Department publishes a flat fee for marriage and civil union licenses, plus a per-page rate for copies. The table comes straight from the official fee schedule. Card payments add a 3% processing fee on top of the listed amount. The office accepts cash, check, and debit or credit cards.

The FAQ page on the Adams County site lists $1.25 as the certified copy cost. The fee schedule breaks the same charge into the per-page rate plus the certification fee. The numbers match in practice. Plan to bring the case or transaction number to keep the search time short and the search fee low.

Ceremony Types in Colorado

Colorado is one of the few states that lets couples solemnize their own marriage. Adams County applies the same options found in state law. The Recording Department does not perform ceremonies in the office. Couples plan the ceremony themselves and return the signed certificate.

• Religious officiant or a member of an Indian Nation or Tribe.
• Civil ceremony performed by a judge, magistrate, retired judge, or any public official authorized by law to solemnize a marriage.
• Self-solemnization by the couple, with each party signing as their own officiant.

Domestic partnership ceremonies are not performed by Adams County. A couple seeking that option works with a city or a private officiant. Civil unions are recorded by the Clerk & Recorder under the same fee and process used for marriage licenses.

Returning the Marriage License

Two short clocks run after the license is issued. The certificate portion must be filled out within 35 days of the ceremony. The signed certificate must then be returned to the Adams County Recording Department within 63 days. The office records the certificate and the marriage is on file. Late returns can create gaps that show up later in vital records searches.

Note: A license used or signed outside Colorado is not valid; the ceremony must happen in the state.

Adams County Divorce Records

Adams County divorce records are not at the Clerk & Recorder. The Clerk & Recorder page says court-related matters, including divorce documents, should go to the Adams County Judicial Center at 303-659-1161. The court at the Justice Center holds the divorce file. Cases run under the domestic relations case class DR. The 17th Judicial District handles every Adams County divorce filing.

The Justice Center sits at 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton. The court at that address takes filings for divorce, legal separation, and allocation of parental responsibilities. Records requests for a final decree, a parenting plan, or a copy of the case docket go through the Records Unit. The Unit is reached at 303-654-3239 or by email at AdamsRecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us. A docket-level search runs through the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search using case class DR. The full Adams County district court page covers the case-class field set in more detail.

Colorado is a no-fault dissolution state under Title 14. The court does not require a party to prove fault to grant a dissolution. The court does require service, financial disclosures, and parenting plans where minor children are involved. Some details in a divorce file are restricted, including child medical records, SSNs, and protected addresses. Final decrees are usually available with a written request and the case number.

Parenting Classes for Divorce Cases

Parties to a divorce, legal separation, or allocation of parental responsibilities must attend a court-approved parenting class if the case involves minor children. The certificate of completion is filed with the court. The Adams County court page lists three providers with their costs. Selection is up to the parents.

• H.E.A.R.T. Counseling Center, $57.
• Able 2 Adjust, $37.95.
• ABCs of Co-parenting, $39.95.

The class is short and can be done online with most providers. The court will not enter permanent orders without the certificate on file. Parents should plan to finish the class well before the permanent orders hearing. The court will continue the hearing if the certificate is missing.

How to Get a Certified Copy of an Adams County Marriage Record

Uncertified copies of recorded marriage and civil union licenses can be downloaded or printed for free from the Recording Department portal. Most title companies and government uses require a certified copy. Certified copies are not sent electronically. The county does not email a certified copy.

A certified copy is ordered by phone or in person. Call the Recording Department at 720-523-6020. The fee is $0.25 per page plus $1.00 per document certification. The FAQ page lists $1.25 each as the rounded figure. In-person pickup happens at the Government Center, 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite E2400, in Brighton. The mailing address for certified copy orders is Adams County Clerk & Recorder, P.O. Box 5012, Brighton, CO 80601. FedEx, UPS, or certified mail goes to the suite address. For broader context on county recorded documents, see the Adams County public records page.

Related Adams County Records

For estate filings, see Adams County probate records. For court clerk hours and certified court copies, see Clerk of Court. For broader recorded-document access, see public records. For divorce case dockets and DR case-class details, see Adams County district court.