Colorado ranks 33rd out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#42 (tie)of 51
Speed#24of 51
Ease of ordering#29 (tie)of 51
Birth certificates #27 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $20 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: 30 business days; mail: about 17 days; in person: by appointment at the state office; same day at county offices
Time until the copy is in hand
About 3–4 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1910
Marriage records #36 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the County Clerk and Recorder where the license was issued (the state issues a $25 verification only)
Order online
No statewide online ordering
Divorce records #27 (tie) of 51
Cost
Varies by county
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the divorce was granted (the state issues a $25 verification only)
Order online
No statewide online ordering
Death certificates #24 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $20 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: 30 business days; mail: about 17 days; in person: by appointment at the state office; same day at county offices
Time until the copy is in hand
About 3–4 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1900
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Colorado birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a Colorado birth certificate?
A certified Colorado birth certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $20 for each extra copy ordered at the same time, from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Office of Vital Records or a local vital records office. Order online through VitalChek or GoCertificates, by mail, in person by appointment at the state office, or at a local vital records office.
Colorado birth records: ordering details
Who can order
You must have a direct and tangible interest. Certified birth certificates may be issued to the registrant, a spouse, parents, stepparents, siblings, adult children or a legal guardian, or a legal representative of one of them with proof of the client relationship. Unless you’re the registrant or a parent, include proof of relationship. If the person has died, include a copy of the death certificate.
Fee
$25 for the first certified copy and $20 for each extra copy ordered at the same time (fee schedule effective January 1, 2026). Heirloom birth certificate (state office): $35. Apostille: $5 per document. No record found: $25. Fees are non-refundable. Mail orders add an $8 VitalChek processing fee, and online vendors add their own fees.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek (866-632-2604) or GoCertificates (800-324-6380). These vendors add their own fees, and a surcharge applies to card payments. By mail: the Birth Certificate Application, a copy of your ID, proof of relationship and the fees to Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79913. The mail application is processed through VitalChek’s mail service: add the $8 VitalChek processing and handling fee, and pay by credit card or by personal or business check or money order payable to VitalChek. Regular U.S. mail return is included; UPS Air is $21 (UPS won’t deliver to a P.O. box). In person: the state office at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, is open by appointment only (no walk-ins); call 303-692-2200. Local offices: birth certificates are also available from local vital records offices.
ID needed
A copy of a current driver’s license, passport or state ID (one document from the primary list; no expired documents). If you don’t have one, send two documents from the secondary list. Plus proof of your relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate or a court order, unless you’re named on the record. If you can’t provide acceptable ID, CDPHE suggests asking a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling or adult child with ID to request the certificate.
Processing time
CDPHE says normal processing for online orders is 30 business days from the date received. As of October 27, 2026, it was working on online orders received by September 30, 2026 and mail orders received by October 7, 2026. Check the current processing times before you order. Estimate: allow about 4 to 6 weeks for an online order, plus delivery.
Older and local records
The state office has birth records from 1910, and for some counties from before 1910 (per the CDC). For historical records, see the Colorado State Archives.
Tip: Send a mail order to the El Paso, Texas, P.O. box printed on the application. That isn’t a mistake: Colorado’s mail orders are handled by VitalChek’s mail service, so make your check payable to VitalChek.
A certified Colorado death certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $20 for each extra copy ordered at the same time, from CDPHE Vital Records or a local vital records office. Order online through VitalChek or GoCertificates, by mail, in person by appointment at the state office, or at a local vital records office.
Colorado death records: ordering details
Who can order
You must have a direct and tangible interest. Eligible people include a current spouse, parent, funeral director or informant listed on the certificate, stepparents, siblings, children and stepchildren (with proof of relationship), and legal representatives. An ex-spouse, beneficiary, insurance company, creditor, employer or probate researcher needs proof of a direct and tangible interest. An agent under a durable power of attorney needs a signed, notarized durable POA; a medical POA isn’t accepted. Genealogists need a notarized release from an immediate family member, and their copy is marked “For Genealogical Use Only.”
Fee
$25 for the first certified copy and $20 for each extra copy ordered at the same time (effective January 1, 2026). Apostille: $5. If you don’t know the date of death, there is a $1 search fee per year searched. Fees are non-refundable. Mail orders add an $8 VitalChek processing fee, and online vendors add their own fees.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek (866-632-2604) or GoCertificates (800-324-6380). These vendors add their own fees, and a surcharge applies to card payments. By mail: the Application for Certified Death Certificate, a copy of your ID, proof of relationship or interest, and the fees to Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79912. The mail application is processed through VitalChek’s mail service: add the $8 VitalChek processing and handling fee, and pay by credit card or by personal or business check or money order payable to VitalChek. Regular U.S. mail return is included; UPS Air is $21 (UPS won’t deliver to a P.O. box). In person: the state office at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, is open by appointment only (no walk-ins); call 303-692-2200. Local offices: death certificates are also available from local vital records offices.
ID needed
A copy of a current driver’s license, passport or state ID (one document from the primary list; no expired documents). If you don’t have one, send two documents from the secondary list. Plus proof of your relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate or a court order, unless you’re named on the record.
Processing time
CDPHE says normal processing for online orders is 30 business days from the date received. As of October 27, 2026, it was working on online orders received by September 30, 2026 and mail orders received by October 7, 2026. Check the current processing times before you order. The death application notes that processing may take up to 21 to 25 business days. Estimate: allow about 4 to 6 weeks, plus delivery.
Older and local records
The state office has death records from 1900 (per the CDC). For historical records, see the Colorado State Archives.
Tip: Relatives outside the immediate family, such as in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins, must show a direct and tangible interest for deaths in the last 25 years. For older deaths, proof of relationship (a family tree is acceptable) gets you a copy marked “For Genealogical Use Only.”
A certified copy of a Colorado marriage license comes from the County Clerk and Recorder in the county where the license was issued. The state Office of Vital Records issues only a certified verification of marriage, which costs $25 ($20 for each extra copy).
Colorado marriage records: ordering details
Where records are kept
The state Office of Vital Records doesn’t issue certified copies of marriage records. It issues only a certified verification from its index; the certified copy of the marriage certificate comes from the County Clerk and Recorder in the county where the license was issued.
Who can order
For the state verification: the spouses, parents, stepparents, siblings, children and stepchildren, with proof of relationship. In-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, ex-spouses, creditors, employers and insurance companies need to show a direct and tangible interest. For county copies, ask the County Clerk and Recorder.
Fee
County copies: varies by county. State certified verification: $25 for the first and $20 for each extra copy. Heirloom marriage certificate (state office): $35. If you don’t know the date, there is a $1 search fee per year searched. Mail orders add an $8 VitalChek processing fee.
How to order
Certified copy: contact the County Clerk and Recorder in the county where the license was issued (addresses are listed on the state’s marriage application). State verification: online through VitalChek, or mail the Certified Verification of Marriage Application with a copy of your ID and the fees to Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79912. The mail application is processed through VitalChek’s mail service: add the $8 VitalChek processing and handling fee, and pay by credit card or by personal or business check or money order payable to VitalChek. Regular U.S. mail return is included; UPS Air is $21 (UPS won’t deliver to a P.O. box).
ID needed
For the state verification: a photocopy of a valid driver’s license, state ID or passport. For county copies, ask the clerk.
Processing time
County copies: varies by county. State verification: CDPHE says normal processing for online orders is 30 business days from the date received. As of October 27, 2026, it was working on online orders received by September 30, 2026 and mail orders received by October 7, 2026. Check the current processing times before you order.
Older records
The state’s marriage index covers 1900–1939 and 1975 to the present (civil unions from 2013). For other years, and for all certified copies, contact the County Clerk and Recorder.
Tip: If you need the marriage certificate itself, for a name change or benefits for example, go to the County Clerk and Recorder. The state verification only confirms that the marriage is in the state index.
A certified copy of a Colorado divorce decree comes from the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the divorce was granted. The state Office of Vital Records issues only a certified verification of dissolution, which costs $25 ($20 for each extra copy).
Colorado divorce records: ordering details
Where records are kept
The state Office of Vital Records doesn’t issue certified copies of divorce records. It issues only a certified verification from its index; the decree comes from the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the divorce was granted. District courts are in the county seat.
Who can order
For the state verification: the people named and close relatives with proof of relationship, legal representatives, and others with a direct and tangible interest. For the decree, ask the District Court clerk.
Fee
Decree copies: set by the District Court. State certified verification: $25 for the first and $20 for each extra copy. If you don’t know the date, there is a $1 search fee per year searched. Mail orders add an $8 VitalChek processing fee.
How to order
Decree: contact the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the divorce was granted. State verification: online through VitalChek, or mail the Application for Certified Verification of Dissolution of Marriage with a copy of your ID and the fees to Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79912. The mail application is processed through VitalChek’s mail service: add the $8 VitalChek processing and handling fee, and pay by credit card or by personal or business check or money order payable to VitalChek. Regular U.S. mail return is included; UPS Air is $21 (UPS won’t deliver to a P.O. box).
ID needed
For the state verification: a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of relationship. For the decree, ask the court clerk.
Processing time
Decree copies: varies by court. State verification: CDPHE says normal processing for online orders is 30 business days from the date received. As of October 27, 2026, it was working on online orders received by September 30, 2026 and mail orders received by October 7, 2026. Check the current processing times before you order.
Older records
The state’s dissolution index covers 1851–1939 and 1968 to the present, and only for divorces that counties reported. For 1940–1967, contact the county where the divorce was granted. If you don’t know the county, you may need to contact several.
Tip: Need proof of a divorce from 1940–1967? The state can’t verify those years, so go straight to the District Court in the county where it was granted.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Colorado records people search for
Official Colorado sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Official Colorado sites for other records
Court case lookup
Colorado Judicial Dockets Daily dockets by county; copies of case records are requested from the court, with fees.
Inmate search
CDOC Offender Search People in Colorado Department of Corrections custody or on parole.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Colorado public records
Colorado regulated access to public records with the Colorado Open Records Act which was enacted in 1969 and has since then been amended to reflect wider legislative changes. Like in all other states, there is no single agency in Colorado that keeps all public records, which is why the starting point for any journey into public archives is to identify the record custodian that you need. Once you do this, you can submit a written open records request plus the required fee and expect an initial response within, most commonly, three working days.
Colorado Vital Records
Colorado birth and death certificates, adoption records, and marriage and divorce certificates, among others, are held by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. To be eligible for access to these, you would need to supply the records custodian with proof of your direct relationship to the person whose record you want to access or, alternatively, with evidence of direct and tangible interest. In other words, if you are not seeking information about an immediate family member, you need to present proof of, for instance, client relationship, if you are a legal representative, or any other relevant document that will confirm the legitimacy of your records request. There are also two lists of IDs that the Vital Records Office accepts as proof of identity. You can apply for vital record access with either one ID from the primary list -- these include driver’s licenses, college IDs, temporary resident cards and foreign passports -- or with two documents from the secondary list. The secondary list includes documents pertaining to the record in question, such as a divorce decree or acknowledgment of paternity, to mention but two, or documents such as professional IDs (pilot license, craft or trade license, etc.) and social security or Medicare cards. If you do not possess the correct identification, you should first obtain these before initiating any public records request.
Adoption Registry
The DPHE maintains a Voluntary Adoption Registry which allows Colorado-born individuals aged 18 or older who have been adopted to get in contact with their birth parents if both parties agree to do so. It also facilitates contact between adoptees and their birth siblings on the condition that both parties are over 18 years of age. One can register after completing a consent form, notarizing it, providing a valid ID and proof of their relationship to the person they wish to contact, and then paying an administrative fee. Applications take no more than three weeks to process and the applicant is notified if and when a match is found.
Colorado Criminal Records
Criminal records are in custody of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, including the sex offender registry. The Colorado Department of Corrections is the place to go for any information about incarceration records, including current records on escapees, absconders and walkaways.
Legislative Records
The custodians of legislative public records are the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate. An exception to this rule regards public records held by individual members of these houses, as stipulated in the ‘Legislative Policies Related to Public Records and E-mail’ regulation from 2013. The public records that one can request access to include any writing produced by or kept by any of the two houses’ members related to the exercise of their functions. Constituents can approach directly their elected representatives with an open records request. There are, however, some cases when access to such information is denied, including when the request concerns confidential information, documentation around the drafting of bills or some research projects, as these do not qualify as public records.
Business Public Records
To make a reference regarding a business entity, the place to go is the Business Division of the Secretary of State’s office. The Division provides copies of filed documents and certificates in good standing for free; these could be printed directly from the Secretary of State office’s website. Other reference documents, such as certificates of existence and certificates of fact related to business entity records, trademarks and trade names are available on order. The Division also provides other information, including type of business entity, date of registration, office address and identification number, among others. The website of the Business Division has search capabilities by business name, trade name or trade mark as well as by document ID or number if filed documents are what you are looking for. If you are setting up a business, you can search the website’s database for name availability as well – a good step to take before committing yourself to something that may turn out unusable.
Historical Archives
The Colorado State Archives is an agency of the Department of Personnel and Administration and it stores historical records dating as far back as the second half of the 19th century. This is the place to go for genealogical or historical research. The Archives have a user-friendly website where you can browse for the type of reference you need, be it a vital record -- birth certificate or marriage certificate, for instance -- a military record, or a record of a court case. You can submit an online request and get the information you need at a reasonable fee.
Other Records
Basically, every specialized government agency is the keeper of public records regarding its activity and any open records request should be made to the relevant agency. In case you are unsure which the relevant agency is, you can simply write to the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, where you can also find a template for an open records request.
