Colorado Vital Records

Colorado vital records are official documents that record significant milestones that profoundly impact a person's life, such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. According to Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-2-117, vital records in Colorado are confidential documents and are only accessible to individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Colorado public records laws may, however, permit access to non-confidential information in vital records, such as marriage and divorce records.

With that being said, vital records are under the purview of state- and local-level entities. At the state level, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment maintains online and offline copies of these records. County health departments and other local entities may have jurisdiction over these records.

Public Access to Colorado Vital Records

The Colorado Revised Statutes § 25-2-117 classifies vital records as confidential information. Under the law, the record seeker must have a direct and tangible interest in the record. Inquirers under this category may include the record subject, immediate family members, and their legal representatives. Third parties may, however, access these records either by using a court order or a written authorization from the record subject.

Note that the statute of confidentiality does not apply to all vital records. Under Colorado's Open Records Laws, public members may access informational copies of marriage and divorce records. For example, the Denver County Clerk and Recorder's Office offers an online search repository for marriage records.

Types of Vital Records Available in Colorado

Types of vital records in Colorado are:

• Birth records: These records contain all information regarding a birth event in the state. The record typically reveals details like the record subject's name, birthdate, parents' names, and the county where the birth occurred.
• Death Records: Colorado death records contain information about individuals who have died in the state. The record may reveal the deceased's personal information, date and location of the death event, and medical report concerning the deceased.
• Marriage records: These records encompass all legally recognized marriages that took place in Colorado. The record typically contains the couple's names, residential address, birthdate, marriage location, and date.
• Divorce records: Divorce records are court documents that pertain to dissolved marriages. These records differ slightly, as they include court-related information, such as divorce case summaries and court judgments.

Colorado's birth, death, and marriage records may be available as certified and informational copies. For example, the State's Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) offers access to both certified and verification documents.

Colorado Birth Records

Colorado birth records typically include the following data:

• Record subject's names.
• Birthdate and the county where the birth occurred.
• Parents' names and ages at the time of the birth event.
• Mother's maiden names.
• Parents' occupation.
• Primary residential address of the parents.
• Name of the hospital where the birth occurred.

Interested persons or entities may find the records under the purview of local and state-level agencies. At the state level, the Colorado DPHE maintains access to certified and verified birth records. To obtain a Colorado birth certificate or verification document, inquirers may send a mail or in-person request to the agency at:

Mail address

Vital Record Mail Services

Physical address

The Colorado DPHE's local offices also attend to in-person requests for birth records. Inquirers may use a directory to find the nearest one to get a birth certificate in Colorado.

Colorado Death Records

Colorado reveals information about death records. These records typically reveal the following details:

• The deceased's name, birthdate, age, sex, and residential address.
• Names of next of kin.
• Cause of death and related medical reports.
• Coroner's name and report.

Interested parties will find Colorado death certificates under the purview of the state's DPHE. The agency maintains and issues death records to eligible parties. Persons seeking to obtain the record may send a mail or in-person request to the agency at:

Mail address

Vital Record Mail Services

Physical address

Alternatively, you may find death records in Colorado via local offices of the DPHE. Inquirers may find the nearest office by using an online directory.

Colorado Marriage Records

Colorado marriage records provide information about marriage events within the state. The records typically reveal these details:

• Couple's names, ages, birthdates, occupations, and addresses.
• Place and date of the marriage event.
• Officiating officer's name.
• Parents or guardians of the couple.
• Witnesses present at the event.
• Marital status before the marriage event.

Persons or entities can find marriage certificates in Colorado by contacting the County Clerk and Recorder's Office where the event occurred. These entities may offer online or offline access to the records. For example, the Denver Clerk and Recorder's Office allows in-person requests at:

The Colorado DPHE may provide access to marriage indexes from 1890 to 1939. In contrast, indexes for marriage events after 1960 are under the purview of the Colorado State Archives.

Colorado Divorce Records

Colorado divorce records provide information on all dissolved unions in the state. These records typically include the following details:

• The couple's name, birthdate, and address.
• Date and place of the divorce event.
• Reasons for the divorce.
• Names and number of minors in the union.
• Court identifiers, such as case number and status.
• Court orders and judgment.

Interested parties will find Colorado divorce certificates under the purview of the circuit court that heard the case. The circuit court may offer mail-in or in-person access to divorce decrees and certificates in its custody.

The Colorado State Archive may also provide access to divorce records in some counties.

How to Order Vital Records in Colorado

In Colorado, interested parties may order vital records via online searches, mail, or in-person requests to the record custodians.

Online orders or searches for Colorado Vital Records

Colorado's local and state-level agencies may maintain online search repositories for vital records. At the state level, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment maintains an online search portal for marriage indexes.

In contrast, the County Clerk and Recorder's Office provides local search repositories for marriage events within a county. Case in point: you may search marriage records via the Denver Clerk and Recorder's searchable portal.

Mail-in orders for Colorado Vital Records

The Colorado DPHE allows mail-in requests for birth and death records in its custody. Persons seeking to use this option may follow these steps:

1. Complete the required documents:
2. Application for birth certificate in English or Spanish.
3. Application for a death certificate in English or Spanish.
4. Provide a copy of identification or proof of identification, such as a government-issued ID.
5. The required fee is in the form of a money order, personal check, or business check. A certified copy costs $20 for the first page and $13 per additional copy.
6. Mail the required documents and fees to the agency at:

Vital Record Mail Services

Local custodians may accept mail-in requests for divorce and marriage records.

In-person order for Colorado vital records

Local- and state-level entities allow in-person orders for Colorado vital records. Inquirers are typically required to provide necessary documents in person during business hours at the record custodian's physical location.

To order the record in person, inquirers may provide a valid ID along with the required copy fee. The copy fee may differ based on the record type and format. The Colorado DPHE charges $20 for the first copy of a certified birth or death record.

Who Can Request Colorado Vital Records?

Under Colorado Statutes, only persons with a direct and tangible interest can request Colorado vital records. Inquirers that fall under this category may include:

• The record subject.
• Immediate family relations, such as siblings, parents, grandparents, and court-approved guardians.
• The record subject's legal representatives.
• Third party empowered by a court order or the record subject.

However, the statute does not apply if you're requesting copies of marriage or divorce records. These records are mostly publicly available via different local record custodians. To request such records, inquirers are generally required to provide enough information about the record subject.

Record Type	Eligible Requestors	Required Documents	Official Source Link
Birth Certificate	Registrant (if adult) Parents/Legal Guardians Immediate family (varies by state) Legal representatives Individuals with a court order	May require ID or proof of relationship	Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246 Phone: (303) 692-2200 Email: vital.records@state.co.us. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now
Death Certificate	Immediate family Legal representatives Individuals with documented legal interest	The cause of death may be restricted in some jurisdictions	Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246 Phone: (303) 692-2200 Email: vital.records@state.co.us. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now
Marriage Record	Anyone (if unrestricted) Otherwise, eligible requestors vary by county	There are no restrictions on who can access certified copies of marriage records.	County Clerk and Recorder's Office.
Divorce Record	Anyone (if unrestricted) Otherwise, parties named in the record or legal representatives	Certified copies often require a photo ID or a court request	County district courts.

Processing Times for Colorado Vital Records Requests

There is no state-specific processing time for vital record requests. Colorado vital record processing time may vary based on the request option and the agency processing the request. Other factors, like request backlogs, may also affect the processing time.

Based on the request option, mail-based requests may take up to 30 business days. The mail type also determines how fast you will receive the requested documents. In contrast, in-person requests are usually processed on the same day as the request. Inquirers who arrive early have a higher chance of getting the requested file on the same day.

Record Type	Factors That Influence Processing Time	Considerations
Birth Certificate	Request method (mail, in-person) Verification of eligibility Volume of requests	Mail-based requests may take longer. The Colorado DPHE features information on documents that are currently being processed. Restricted access records require additional review
Death Certificate	Inclusion of cause-of-death information County vs. state processing Method of submission	Some counties have longer retrieval times Additional documentation may be required
Marriage Record	County of record Whether a search is required Request method	County clerks' workloads vary Certified copies may take longer than informational copies
Divorce Record	Court retrieval procedures Complexity of the case Request method	Timelines vary by court and county Expedited processing may be available

Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Colorado

There are no state-specific fees for requesting vital records in Colorado. For instance, the DPHE charges $20 for the first copy of a certified death or birth certificate. Additionally, it costs $13 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously.

County-level record custodians may set specific fees based on factors such as the following:

• The record creation date.
• Number of requested copies.
• Record type: informational or certified.

How to Search Vital Records Online in Colorado

Record seekers can search Colorado vital records online through various state- or locally owned online repositories. The Colorado State Archive maintains an online repository of marriage indexes and divorce records. Additionally, the agency may provide online access to Colorado genealogy records related to birth and death events. In contrast, county-level entities may offer online access to vital records in their custody. For example, the Denver Clerk and Recorder's Office hosts a searchable database for marriage records.