Notary Wedding Officiation In Colorado: What's The Law?

In the US, the laws regarding who can officiate a wedding vary from state to state. In some states, a notary public can legally marry a couple and act as a wedding officiant. But is this the case in Colorado?

Colorado doesn't require officiants to register with a government office

While Colorado law specifies who can solemnize a marriage, it does not require officiants to register with any government office. This means that, as long as you are ordained as a minister, you can legally perform marriage ceremonies in Colorado without needing to register with the state.

No officiant registration is required in Colorado

Colorado law does not require wedding officiants to register with any government office prior to performing a marriage. The Colorado State Government has no laws requiring officiant registration or an office dedicated to the registration of wedding officiants.

Colorado law specifies who can solemnize a marriage

Colorado does have a law (Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-2-109) that specifies who can solemnize a marriage. This includes all ministers, including online ordained ministers of American Marriage Ministries. However, there are no laws, offices, or procedures requiring officiants to register with any government office.

Keep records of your ministry credentials

Although there are no officiant registration requirements in Colorado, you must be an ordained minister to be able to legally perform a marriage. Local regulations in Colorado stipulate that wedding officiants under the designation of "Minister" be ordained by a religious organization, such as American Marriage Ministries.

While you are not required to register with any Colorado government office as a wedding officiant, it is a good idea to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials. Proof of your ordination may be requested by the couple, government officials, or the wedding venue.

Learn how to officiate a wedding

If you have no experience officiating weddings, you can use resources such as the Colorado Wedding Officiant Preparation Guide to learn how to prepare for a wedding ceremony. This guide covers everything from the format for a wedding ceremony, the names of the ceremony parts, how to write a wedding ceremony, and more.

A notary public can perform weddings in some states

In these states, notaries can perform the traditional aspects of a wedding ceremony, including the vows and completing the necessary documentation, such as signing the marriage license. It is important to note that a notary public must be licensed in the state where the wedding is taking place and cannot perform weddings for out-of-state couples or travel to another state to officiate.

Even in states where notary publics are not permitted to officiate weddings, they can still provide valuable services for couples getting married. These services include notarizing life documents, witnessing signatures on the marriage license, and notarizing certified copies of the wedding license, which is required in certain states.

If you are considering having a notary public perform your wedding ceremony, it is important to check your state's laws and regulations. Additionally, keep in mind that there may be specific requirements and considerations for the notary public to officiate, such as ensuring the validity of the marriage and obtaining a marriage license beforehand.

A notary public can't marry out-of-state couples

A notary public can perform a wedding ceremony, but only in certain states. Currently, only six US states allow a notary to act as a wedding officiant: Florida, Maine, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Montana.

A notary public cannot marry out-of-state couples. For example, a Florida notary cannot marry a couple from another state, nor can they leave Florida to marry a couple in another state. This is because a notary public can only provide services in the state that they are licensed in.

If a couple from another state gets a notary to perform their ceremony, their marriage certificate will not be legal unless the notary is also licensed as a wedding officiant in that state. In this case, the notary would need to take extra steps, such as getting ordained to perform a wedding along with their standard notary duties or applying for a temporary one-day marriage designation.

Therefore, if a couple wants their wedding to be legal, they should check their state's laws and regulations concerning marriage validity and how a notary public can get licensed to become a wedding officiant.

A notary public must return the marriage license to the issuing clerk's office

In Colorado, a notary public can perform a wedding ceremony, legally marry a couple, and act as a wedding officiant. However, this is not the case in all states. Only a few states recognize a marriage certificate from a notary, and there are specific requirements that all parties should adhere to for the wedding ceremony to be legally accepted.

In Colorado, the marriage license must be returned to the issuing county clerk or recorder's office within 63 days of the ceremony. The person who solemnizes the marriage is responsible for returning the license. The license must be returned to the county where it was issued, and it can be returned by mail or hand-delivery.

The process of returning the marriage license is an important step in ensuring that the marriage is legally recognized. It is crucial to adhere to the specified time frame and return the license before the expiration date. By fulfilling this responsibility, the notary public or wedding officiant plays a vital role in finalizing the legal aspects of the marriage.

In addition to returning the marriage license, the officiant also has the duty to conduct the wedding ceremony and complete the marriage license in the presence of the couple and any required witnesses. While witnesses are not required in Colorado, their signatures may be included on the license or certificate.

It is important to note that the marriage license must be obtained before the wedding ceremony. The couple can obtain the license by applying through the local county clerk's office and providing the necessary identification and payment. The license is typically valid for 35 days from the date of issuance, and the wedding must take place within this time frame.

A Colorado marriage license expires 35 days after being issued

In Colorado, marriage licenses expire 35 days after being issued. This means that the wedding ceremony must take place within 35 days of the couple filing for their marriage license. If the license expires, the couple will need to apply for a new one.

To obtain a marriage license in Colorado, couples must follow these steps:

• Gather the required documents, including proof of identification and any relevant divorce or death certificates.
• Complete an application form and pay the associated fee, which is typically $30.
• Both individuals must apply in person at their local County Clerk and Recorder Office. If one person cannot be present, the other party must provide an absentee application form, a copy of the absent person's ID, and an absentee affidavit.

Once the couple has received their marriage license, they have 35 days to get married. After the ceremony, the completed marriage license and certificate must be returned to the County Clerk and Recorder's office within 60 to 63 days to avoid late fees.

Frequently asked questions