Who Handles Jefferson County Marriage and Divorce Records
The split between offices matters. The Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder, led by Clerk Amanda Gonzalez, handles marriage and civil union licensing, recording, elections, motor vehicle, passports, and liquor licensing. The Clerk of Court at the Jefferson Combined Court handles divorce, custody, parenting plans, separation agreements, support orders, and other domestic relations files.
The Clerk Amanda Gonzalez bio describes her role and the Clerk and Recorder's mission. Marriage licenses, marriage record copies, and civil union licenses run through her office. Divorce decrees and family case files run through the court Clerk's records counter.
Jefferson County Marriage License Application
Apply for a Jefferson County marriage license at Records and Licensing, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 2560, Golden, CO 80419. The phone is 303-271-8121. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online chat runs 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Mondays are described as the busiest day for marriage license walk-ins.
The Clerk and Recorder contact page lists division phone numbers and posted hours. The recording office, marriage licensing, and passport service all sit in the same suite at 100 Jefferson County Parkway.
- Gather IDs and identifying info for both applicants.
- Complete the online marriage application before arrival. Civil union applications are in-person only.
- Go to Records and Licensing in Golden during posted hours.
- Both people should be present. If not, one party files a notarized absentee affidavit with original ID for the absent party.
- Pay $30 for the marriage or civil union license.
- Use the license within Colorado for up to 35 days from the issue date.
- Complete the ceremony.
- Mail or hand-deliver the completed certificate within 63 days after the ceremony to avoid late fees.
Marriage License Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage or civil union license | $30 |
| Digital / electronic record copy | Free; certified copies not available digitally |
| Paper copies under 20 pages | Free |
| Paper copies 20+ pages | $5 plus $0.25 per additional page |
| Certification of document | $1 per document |
The recording forms and fees page lists the full recording fee schedule for documents, plats, UCCs, and copies. Marriage license copies follow the same paper-copy rule: under 20 pages free, 20+ pages $5 plus $0.25 per added page, plus $1 per document for certification.
Solemnization Rules in Colorado
The Clerk and Recorder cites C.R.S. ยง 14-2-109 and lists who may solemnize a marriage or civil union: judges, retired judges, magistrates, authorized public officials, clergy ordained or recognized to perform marriages, American Indian Tribe officials, or the couple themselves. Witnesses are not required.
A friend or relative cannot solemnize unless authorized by a legal or religious body. If no title such as pastor, minister, judge, or magistrate is identifiable, the office will treat the ceremony as self-solemnization. Self-solemnization is legal in Colorado, but the certificate must be completed and returned within 63 days after the ceremony.
Returning the Certificate
The completed marriage or civil union certificate must be returned to the Clerk and Recorder within 63 days after the ceremony. Late returns may trigger fees. Return options include mail and hand-delivery during office hours. The Clerk and Recorder records the certificate and creates the official marriage record.
Once the certificate is recorded, it becomes part of the searchable Clerk and Recorder database. Recorded marriage records can be searched online or copied at the office. The Clerk's news releases in 2025 announced major online-record expansions, including images back to 1859 for real estate and UCC records and a database that also includes marriage records.
Searching Jefferson County Marriage Records
The Clerk and Recorder publishes a public recording search portal. The portal indexes recorded documents, including marriage records. Online certified copies are not available; certification is $1 per document and requires a separate request at the recording office.
Use the recording search for a public look-up. Use the recording office at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 2560 in Golden for certified copies. The Clerk and Recorder's mission statement and staffing notes confirm the office handles marriage licensing and copies as part of Records and Licensing.
The Clerk and Recorder Mission and Vision page describes the office, staff, and budget. The 2026 office is designated for 113.5 full-time employees, including 17 in Records and Licensing.
Jefferson County Divorce Records at the Court
Divorces are court records, not Clerk and Recorder marriage records. A Jefferson County divorce case is filed in District Court and tracked as a domestic relations (DR) case at the Jefferson Combined Court. The domestic-case contact line is 720-772-2510 and the email is 01DomesticInfo@judicial.state.co.us.
The Colorado Judicial Branch's record/document request form lists Divorce as a case type. It also lists Family Matters document checkboxes for Divorce Decree, Parenting Plan, Separation Agreement, Support Order, and Petition. To request a divorce record, fill out the form and identify the case type, the year filed, the case number (if known), the parties, and the documents needed.
How to Request a Jefferson County Divorce Record
- Open the Colorado Judicial Branch record/document request form.
- Pick Jefferson County as the location.
- Pick Divorce as the case type.
- Enter the case number if known. Jefferson County DR examples include 2026DR97.
- Enter party names, year filed, and date of birth if known.
- Check Divorce Decree, Parenting Plan, Separation Agreement, Support Order, or Petition as needed.
- Mark certified or exemplified if an official copy is required for a bank, court, or out-of-state office.
- Submit the form. Expect a response within three business days.
Fees follow the standard court fee schedule: $0.25 per page (party cap $15), $20 per certified or exemplified document, $5 per name search, and $30 per hour for research and redaction after the first hour. Off-site retrieval is billed at actual cost.
What a Jefferson County Divorce Decree Shows
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Year + DR + sequence (e.g., 2026DR97). |
| Petitioner / Respondent | Names of the divorcing parties. |
| Date of Decree | Date the court entered the order. |
| Grounds | Colorado is a no-fault state. The grounds are irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. |
| Property Division | How marital property and debt are divided. |
| Custody / Parenting | If children are involved, the parenting plan is included. |
| Support | Spousal maintenance and child support, if ordered. |
Some divorce files contain confidential information that may be redacted. Juvenile and child-protection information follows Title 19 restrictions. Files marked confidential by the court may require ID before release.
Colorado Divorce Basics
Colorado is a no-fault dissolution state. The grounds for divorce are irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. The state has residency and waiting-period rules that apply to most cases. Confirm current rules with the Colorado Judicial Branch self-help divorce pages before filing.
Pro se litigants can file domestic cases through Colorado's e-filing system, with help from the Court Resource Center at 720-772-2501. The Family Law Ask-an-Attorney clinic on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Jefferson Combined Court provides free brief advice for eligible attendees. Waivers are accepted starting the day before the clinic and no later than 8:30 a.m. on the day of the clinic, until full. Colorado Legal Services provides free civil legal help for low-income Coloradans, including some domestic cases, in every county.
Marriage and Civil Union Forms
The Clerk and Recorder publishes several forms tied to marriage and civil union licensing. Knowing the names ahead of time speeds up a counter visit.
- Marriage Absentee Affidavit - used when one applicant cannot appear in person.
- Marriage Social Security Affidavit - used in name-change processing tied to the license.
- Civil Union Absentee Affidavit - for an absent civil union applicant.
- Civil Union Guardian Consent Form - for cases that require guardian sign-off.
- Civil Union Social Security Affidavit - tied to civil union name and SSA paperwork.
- Request for Marriage or Civil Union License Copy - used when requesting a paper or certified copy.
Bring originals when an affidavit is involved. Photocopies are not accepted in place of an original government ID for an absent party. The Clerk reviews each affidavit at the counter and stamps the license only after the documents are accepted. Mondays are the busiest day for marriage license walk-ins, so plan for a wait or pick a different weekday if your schedule allows.