Getting Married in San Juan County, Colorado
Please follow the steps below for applying and receiving a marriage license in San Juan County, Colorado. Office hours for the Clerk and Recorder office can sometimes be irregular. Please feel free to call ahead (970-387-5671) to check if our office is open.
- STEP 1 - FILL OUT APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION LICENSE
INSTRUCTIONS
- Please make sure to completely fill out all fields in the application.
- If you have any questions about how to complete a field, please highlight it and ask the County Clerk when at your in-person visit.
- Parties without social security numbers (non-citizens, etc) are not required to fill out the social security field.
- All other individuals must fill in a social security number.
- Names on the marriage license application must appear exactly as it is on your valid ID.
- Valid forms of ID include:
- U.S. state-issued driver's license or permit
- U.S. state-issued ID
- U.S. military ID
- Passport (with certified English-language translation if non-English
- Legal age without parental consent is 18 for both persons.
- If under the age of 18 and over the age of 16, written and notarized consent signed by both parents (or parent having legal custody), or legal guardian is required.
- A Judicial Court Order from the court of jurisdiction is required of anyone under the age of 16.
- Couples are prohibited from marrying when one of the parties is still married to another person.
- Also prohibited are marriages of brother and sister, uncle and niece, or aunt and nephew, whether the relationship is by half or whole blood.
- Please answer how you are solemnizing your marriage or union.
- Civil ceremonies are for marriages solemnized in front of a judge or government official with the authority to officiate a wedding.
- Religious ceremonies are for marriages solemnized by an ordained officiant or Indian Nation or Tribe.
- Self-solemnization ceremonies are for marriages without an ordained or government officiant. These ceremonies can be witnessed by others (including your pet!), but witnesses are not required for self-solemnized marriages.
- Please make sure to completely fill out all fields in the application.
- STEP 2 - APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE
- Both you and your intended spouse must appear in person at the San Juan County Office of the Clerk and Recorder.
- License applications are accepted Monday through Friday 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 3:45 pm.
- Present a valid form of identification:
- U.S. state-issued driver's license or permit
- U.S. state-issued ID
- U.S. military ID
- Passport (with certified English-language translation if non-English
- Please note the name on the marriage license will appear exactly as it is on the ID you provide.
- NOT ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ID:
- Birth certificates
- Baptismal certificates
- Mexican Consular IDs (Matricula Consular)
- Social Security Cards
- Student IDs
- Any other ID not specifically listed as a valid ID above.
- Pay a license fee of $30.
- Cash and checks or money orders payable to San Juan County Clerk.
- We do not accept credit cards or debit cards for marriage license payments.
- Our address is:
San Juan County Courthouse
1557 Greene St
PO Box 466
Silverton, CO81433
Phone: 970.387.5671
Fax: 970-387-8043
- STEP 3 - SIGN AND RETURN FOR RECORDING
- Once your ceremony is complete, sign your license and return it to the San Juan County Clerk. You may return the license in person or via mail.
- If sending via mail, please include a prepaid return envelope so that we can return your license after it is recorded.
- Please note - your license certificate is valid upon the date issued and must be signed in Colorado within 35 days from the date of issue.
- The license must be returned for recording within 63 days of marriage to avoid extra fees.
- Once your ceremony is complete, sign your license and return it to the San Juan County Clerk. You may return the license in person or via mail.