Find Marriage Records in Grand County

Grand County offers stunning mountain scenery for weddings. Many couples choose this area to begin their lives together. The county seat is Hot Sulphur Springs. This is where all Grand County marriage records are kept. The Clerk and Recorder office handles licenses and certificates. Local residents use this office. So do visitors who marry here. The staff can help you find records from past years. They also issue new marriage licenses.

Where to Get Marriage Records in Grand County

The Grand County Clerk and Recorder is your starting point. This office sits in Hot Sulphur Springs. All marriage licenses for Grand County come from here. The staff files certificates after ceremonies too. You can visit in person to get copies. The office is open weekdays. Call first to confirm hours. Winter weather sometimes affects schedules in this mountain county.

The Colorado State Archives holds some older Grand County marriage records. Their statewide index covers 1890 to 1939. This includes Grand County entries. The index is online. You can search from home. It shows names, dates, and license numbers. The Archives may have some Grand County records on file. Contact them to check. If they do not have your record, call the Grand County Clerk.

For verification only, try the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. They issue marriage verifications for Grand County events. These are not full certificates. A verification simply confirms a marriage occurred. It gives the names and date. CDPHE charges $25 for the first copy. Additional copies cost $20 each. Order through VitalChek at 866-632-2604. Or mail to 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246.

Grand County Clerk and Recorder Office

The Grand County Clerk and Recorder office is at 308 Byers Avenue in Hot Sulphur Springs. This is the county seat. The office serves all of Grand County. This includes Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, and Grand Lake. Kremmling residents also use this office. All marriage licenses for these towns come from Hot Sulphur Springs. The staff knows the local area well. They help many couples each year.

The office issues marriage licenses Monday through Friday. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Both parties should bring valid ID. A driver's license works. A passport is fine too. The license fee is $7. An additional $20 goes to state funds. The total is $27. The license is good for 35 days. You must marry within Colorado. After the wedding, return the signed certificate to this office. They will file it and make certified copies.

Note: Call ahead during winter months as mountain weather may affect office hours.

Marriage License Requirements in Grand County

Colorado law sets the rules for marriage licenses. Grand County follows these rules. Under C.R.S. § 14-2-106, you must be 18 or older. Ages 16 and 17 need a court order. Bring a certified birth certificate for minors. Both parties need Social Security numbers. You do not need Colorado residency. Many out-of-state couples marry in Grand County. The mountain resorts attract destination weddings.

The application process is simple. You provide your full legal name. You state your current address. You give your date and place of birth. No blood test is required. Colorado has no waiting period. You get the license the same day. This makes it easy to plan a wedding. The 35-day validity gives you flexibility. Plan your ceremony within that window.

Colorado allows self-solemnization. This is a unique feature. The couple can perform their own ceremony. No officiant is needed. You both sign the certificate. This works well for private ceremonies. Many couples choose this for Grand County weddings. The scenic beauty speaks for itself. No officiant is required to witness the vows.

Items to bring for a Grand County marriage license:

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Social Security numbers for both parties
• $27 fee payment
• Both parties present, or one with a notarized affidavit for the absent party

Ordering Certified Copies from Grand County

After your wedding, get certified copies of your marriage certificate. These prove your marriage is legal. Banks need them. Insurance companies ask for them. The Social Security Office requires them for name changes. The Grand County Clerk can provide these. Visit the office in Hot Sulphur Springs. Bring your ID. State when you married. Give the full names from the license.

You can also order by mail. Write to the Grand County Clerk and Recorder. Include the names on the license. State the marriage date. Include a copy of your photo ID. Send payment for the copies. Call 970-725-3062 for current fees. Fees change over time. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. This helps them return your copies quickly.

The CDPHE offers another path. They sell marriage verifications. These cost $25 for the first copy. Extra copies are $20 each. Order online at vitalchek.com. VitalChek adds a processing fee. Or mail to CDPHE at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246. Their phone is 303-692-2200. Remember, these are verifications only. They are not full marriage certificates. For certified copies, contact the Grand County Clerk directly.

Note: Verification documents serve different purposes than certified copies for legal matters.

Historical Marriage Records in Grand County

Grand County has a long history. Settlers arrived in the late 1800s. Many married here. The Colorado State Archives preserves some of these records. Their statewide marriage index includes Grand County. It covers 1890 to 1939. You can search this online. The index shows names and dates. It lists license numbers. Not all records are at the Archives. Some stayed with the county. Check with both places if needed.

The State Archives research room is in Denver. The address is 1313 Sherman St., Room 1B-20. Call 303-866-2358 for help. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The room is closed Mondays. You need an appointment to visit. No walk-ins are allowed. The Archives charges $11 for vital record copies. There is a $12 handling fee per request. This is less than CDPHE fees.

FamilySearch.org has a statewide index too. It covers Colorado marriages from 1853 to 2006. This includes Grand County. The index is free to search. You need to create an account. The index lists grooms' names. Some cards may be out of order. This is a good starting point for research. It can lead you to the county or state archives for copies.

Note: Marriage records from 1940 to 1974 may only exist at the county level.

Cities and Towns in Grand County

Grand County includes several communities. All use the Hot Sulphur Springs office for marriage records. Winter Park is a popular ski resort. Fraser sits nearby. Granby is a growing town. Grand Lake is at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Kremmling is to the west. All these towns are part of Grand County. Their residents get marriage licenses at the same office.

Nearby Counties

If you cannot find a record in Grand County, check these neighboring counties. Couples sometimes marry just across county lines.