How to Find Colorado Marriage Records
Finding Colorado Marriage Records[edit | edit source]
Colorado was admitted to the Union as the state 38th state in 1876 and is known as the Centennial State. Registration of marriages with the County Clerk and Recorder was not required until 1881 yet many earlier records do exist.
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More marriage information is usually found on the marriage license application or the marriage register. Less information is found on the marriage certificate. |
Next Step: When did the marriage occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records
Marriages Early to 1900[edit | edit source]
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.
| 1. Look first in | 2. Then search |
| Church Records |
Census Records |
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
| Colorado Marriage Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| United States Marriages – Colorado, 1699-2006 |
($) |
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| Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006 |
Free! Name index and images of card index created by the Division of Vital Statistics, Department of Health in Colorado. The index is arranged alphabetically by groom's name providing county, names of husband and wife, age, race, date and place of marriage, certificate number. Some cards are out of order. | |||
| Colorado Marriage Database - Includes Digital Images Only | ||||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Colorado Territorial Marriage Index, 1861-1868 |
Free; Marriage certificates from Arapahoe County, which was a more extensive area then the county today and included Denver. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, their residence, name of the officiator, names of witnesses, certificate number and the date of marriage. | |||
| Colorado Marriage Database - Includes Digital Images Only | ||||
| Try 3rd: | ||||
| Colorado, County Marriages, 1864-1995 |
Free; browse images by county online at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date and place of marriage, officiator and witnesses and parents, ages, residences and martial status of bride and groom. Marriages for Clear Creek, Fremont, Kit Carson, Logan, Moffat, Phillips, Saguache, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties. The content varies by county. | |||
| Colorado Marriage Databases - Includes Index Only | ||||
| Try 4th: | ||||
| Western States Marriage Index |
Free; search index by groom's or bride's name. Some counties have records as early as 1864. Record content varies by county. | |||
| Or Try: | ||||
| Ancestry Database - Choose from the following: | ||||
| Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 Use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries |
Free; at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 Use your Ancestry subscription |
($);To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available for free through your local public library | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. |
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STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
If you were able to locate the county where the marriage took place contact the county offices to obtain a copy of the marriage certificate.
For a list of Colorado County offices and the dates of the marriage records they hold visit Colorado State Archives Marriage Records
Marriages 1900 to Present[edit | edit source]
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
| Colorado Marriage Database - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| United States Marriages – Colorado, 1699-2006 |
($) at Findmypast |
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| Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006 |
Free; name index with images of the card index online at FamilySearch. The index cards are arranged by groom's surname. | |||
| Colorado Marriage Database - Includes Digital Images Only | ||||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Colorado, County Marriages, 1864-1995 |
Free; browse images by county online at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date and place of marriage, officiator and witnesses and parents, ages, residences and martial status of bride and groom. Marriages for Clear Creek, Fremont, Kit Carson, Logan, Moffat, Phillips, Saguache, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties. The content varies by county.
| |||
| Colorado Marriage Databases - Includes Index Only | ||||
| Try 3rd: | ||||
| Western States Marriage Index |
Free; search index by groom's or bride's name. Record content varies by county. | |||
| Or Try: | ||||
| Ancestry Database - Choose from the following: | ||||
| Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 Use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries |
Free; at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 Use your Ancestry subscription |
($);To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available for free through your local public library | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. |
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STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
Step A: You know the exact date of the marriage
- Copies may be ordered from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Copies may be ordered from the County Clerk and Recorder
Step B: You do not know the exact marriage date
If you do not know the exact date of the marriage the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentwill conduct a search for $1.00 per year.
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When ordering Colorado marriage records: Ask for the marriage license or the marriage register, not the marriage certificate. The license or register usually contains more information. |
Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]
- Learn more about U.S. marriage records
- How to find U.S. birth records
- How to find U.S. marriage records
- How to find U.S. death records
- United States Record Finder
- United States, How to Use Marriage Records
- United States Marriage Records
- United States Vital Records
- U.S. Vital Records Overview
- Locating United States Vital Records
- Colorado, County Marriages, 1853-2006 — index and images
- Western States Marriage Index.
- Colorado DPA Marriage Records Choose Record Type Marriage or Marriage License in search box.
- Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006 Index.
- Colorado Marriages, 1859--1900 ($)
- Colorado, County Marriages, 1864-1995 Images.
- Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939, ($). Index.
