Kit Carson County Marriage License Lookup

Kit Carson County marriage records are maintained at the Clerk and Recorder office in Burlington. This office serves all residents of the county. Local towns include Flagler, Bethune, and Stratton. People come here to apply for marriage licenses and request certified copies. The process is simple. You must visit in person to start your application. The staff is ready to help. They can answer questions about what documents you need.

Where to Get Marriage Records in Kit Carson County

The Clerk and Recorder office in Burlington is where you go for Kit Carson County marriage records. This office holds all marriage certificates for ceremonies performed in the county. Residents of Seibert and Vona also use this location. The staff can help you find records from many years past. They keep these documents safe and secure.

Certified copies are different from verifications. The county office gives you the actual certificate. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment only gives verifications. These tell you that a marriage happened. They do not give you a full copy of the certificate. Most legal matters need the real certificate from the county.

Some records are held by the state. The state office has an index of marriages. They can confirm events happened. They cannot give you a certified copy. You must get that from Burlington.

The Colorado State Archives has older records. They keep records from before 1960. These help people trace their family trees. The Archives has an online index for 1890 to 1939.

There is a gap in state records. Marriages from 1940 to 1974 are not at the state office. You must get these from the county where the wedding took place. Kit Carson County keeps their own records from this time.

Kit Carson County Clerk and Recorder Office

The Kit Carson County Clerk and Recorder follows state laws. They work under C.R.S. § 14-2-106. This law tells them how to issue marriage licenses. They must check that applicants meet all requirements. Both people must be old enough. They cannot be closely related. They cannot already be married to someone else.

The office in Burlington provides many services. They issue new marriage licenses. They file completed marriage certificates. They give certified copies of old records. They also keep records of all marriages in the county. This work is important for the community.

People from all parts of the county use this office. Burlington is the county seat. It is the center of government for Kit Carson County. The office is easy to reach from most towns in the area.

Note: Contact the office before you visit to confirm hours and required documents.

Marriage License Requirements in Kit Carson County

Getting a marriage license in Kit Carson County takes some planning. You must go to the Burlington office in person. At least one person must be there to apply. This is the law under C.R.S. § 14-2-106. You cannot apply by mail or online. Both people should bring valid ID.

Age limits apply to everyone. You must be 18 or older to marry without special permission. People who are 16 or 17 need a court order. A judge must approve the marriage. This takes extra time. Plan ahead if this applies to you. No one under 16 can marry in Colorado.

You need proper identification. A driver's license works. A passport works too. Military ID is also accepted. Your ID must not be expired. The staff must verify who you are. This is a security measure. It protects against fraud.

The license has a time limit. C.R.S. § 14-2-107 says it is good for 35 days only. You must have your ceremony within this window. After that, the license expires. You would need to apply again. You must use the license in Colorado. It is not valid in other states.

Colorado has special rules. You can marry yourselves. No judge or minister is required. This is called self-solemnization. It is legal here. Many couples choose this option. It makes the day more personal.

Ordering Certified Copies from Kit Carson County

After you marry, you need proof. Kit Carson County can give you certified copies. These are official documents. They have a seal from the Clerk and Recorder. Government offices accept these. Insurance companies accept them too. Banks need them for name changes.

To get a copy, you must request it. Go to the Burlington office. Fill out a form. Give them details about the marriage. They need both full names. They need the date of the wedding. They need to know it happened in Kit Carson County.

You must prove who you are. The county follows ID rules. The identification requirements list shows what works. Bring a current photo ID. This is the best option. The staff must verify your identity before releasing records.

Sometimes you only need verification. The state can provide this. The CDPHE Vital Records office handles these requests. They can say a marriage happened. They send a letter. It is not a copy of the certificate. It costs less than a certified copy. It works for some purposes.

Historical Marriage Records in Kit Carson County

Family historians search Kit Carson County records often. The Colorado State Archives is a good place to start. They hold records from before 1960. Older marriages are on file there. The Archives is in Denver. You can visit by appointment. You can also request records by mail.

The marriage index helps researchers. It covers 1890 to 1939. You can search it online. The Archives Search database is free to use. It lists names and dates. It tells you the county. It gives the license number. This helps you find the full record.

Not every record is at the Archives. Some were never sent there. Others were returned to counties. Kit Carson County may have records the Archives lacks. Always check with the county Clerk and Recorder if you cannot find a record in Denver.

Archives fees are lower than county fees. Vital records cost $11 each. There is a $12 handling fee per order. This is good for people ordering many records. You can do research for less money here.

Colorado records are different from other states. They usually do not list parents' names. Do not expect to find mother and father on these forms. Most genealogists learn this quickly. It is just how the forms were made.

Cities in Kit Carson County

Kit Carson County includes several small communities. All residents use the Burlington office for marriage services. The towns are spread across the eastern plains.

Other communities include Seibert and Vona. All couples from these towns apply for marriage licenses at the Kit Carson County Clerk and Recorder office in Burlington.

Nearby Counties

These Colorado counties border Kit Carson County. If you cannot find a marriage record here, check these neighboring counties.