How to Get Colorado Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Colorado — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Colorado CDPHE. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk and Recorder.
What this page covers: Colorado vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Colorado CDPHE. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk and Recorder in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Statewide vital-records agency
Records back to
Marriage license issued by
Population
5,957,493
Households
2,374,218
Median Income
$92,911
Median Home Value
$539,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Colorado vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at cdphe.colorado.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
Colorado Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Colorado — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — Colorado Vital Records
2026
Colorado vital records portal active
The official Colorado portal at cdphe.colorado.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Colorado state records.
2026
Colorado access in 2026
For 2026, Colorado continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check cdphe.colorado.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Colorado's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.
The 4-Step Colorado Vital Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Colorado, start with the Colorado health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Colorado typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Colorado records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Colorado Vital Records
❌ Myth: "Every birth was registered on time."
✓ Truth: Home births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this — ask the state archives.
❌ Myth: "Anyone can order anyone's birth certificate."
✓ Truth: Birth certificates are restricted nearly everywhere — the person named, parents, spouse, child, or a legal representative. Strangers don't qualify.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is a government website."
✓ Truth: It's a private company that many states authorize to process orders. Legitimate, yes — but the extra convenience fees are theirs, not the state's.
❌ Myth: "A death index entry and a death certificate are the same."
✓ Truth: The index proves a death was recorded; the certified certificate carries the legal details. Banks and courts want the certificate, not a screenshot of the index.
❌ Myth: "Marriage licenses come from the state."
✓ Truth: In most states — Colorado included for most purposes — you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- cdphe.colorado.gov — Official Colorado Vital Records — State portal for Colorado vital records
- CDC National Vital Statistics System — National Vital Statistics System
- CDC — Where to Write for Records — CDC state-by-state directory
- National Archives — Vital Records — Federal genealogy & vital guide
- Social Security Death Master File — Social Security death records
- Census — Births and Deaths — Census Bureau vital statistics
- VA — Veterans Records — Veterans Administration records
Related Vital Records Resources
📍 Other Colorado records:
- Colorado Court Records →
- Colorado Criminal Records →
- Colorado Property Records →
- Colorado Voter Records →
- Colorado Wants & Warrants →
- Colorado Licenses →
- Colorado Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Vital Records in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Vital Records hub →
Related Public Records
More Colorado records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Vital Records Databases
18 official Colorado vital records sources.
Vital Records
Archives Search | Colorado State Archives
Official Free
The Archives Search is a database that is searchable by name, record type, and time span. However, there are many records available for your research needs that are not listed in the database. The database is not an index of ALL the records held by the Colorado State Archives .
Property Alert
Official Free
ANY USER WHO ATTEMPTS TO GAIN ACCESS TO ANY INFORMATION FROM THE WEB SITE AGREES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT HE, SHE, OR IT RELEASES Boulder COUNTY, ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AGENTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY LIABILITY OR DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, ...
Marriage Records | Colorado State Archives
Official Free
Colorado State Archives holds some, but not all, old marriage certificates for the State of Colorado. As a rule of thumb, if you got married after 1960, State Archives most likely does not have your marriage certificate. You should start your search in the Clerk & Recorder's office for the county in which you got married.
Obituaries, Cemeteries & the Dead | Denver Public Library Special Collections and Archives
Official Free
Obituaries, death, burial and funeral notices along with memorials and notices of thanks from the family may contain any, all or none of the facts about the deceased. The two major obituary resources are the Denver Obituary Project from the Denver Public Library and the Colorado Obituary Project from the Colorado Genealogical Society.
Request data for research | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Official Free
Vital records, including birth, death, adoption, marriage, and divorce, are confidential per Colorado state statute (C.R.S. 25-2-117) . As a result, Colorado vital records are not public records and therefore not searchable online. Vital records can only be released to those who are eligible.
Landmark Web Home Page
Official Free
The information contained on this grantor/grantee index is deemed reliable but its accuracy can not be guaranteed. Information from this site should not be relied upon or used as a substitute for title insurance. User acknowledges that, in using this information, he assumes the risk of error ...
CITY OF EVANS CEMETERY DIRECTORY LAST DECFIRST DECMIDDLE BLOCK LOT SPACE BURIED
Official Free
CITY OF EVANS · CEMETERY DIRECTORY · LAST · DECFIRST · DECMIDDLE · BLOCK · LOT · SPACE · BURIED · VETERAN · ABBOTT · Rosa · Block 1 · 121 · 3 · 12/07/1946 · ABEGTA · ALENA · County Area · 285 · 7/11/1937 · ABEYTA · RAMONA · County Area ·
Browser Test - Jefferson County Clerk/Recorder Web Access
Official Free
Marriage · Online Application · Search Marriage Index · My Account · My Shopping Basket · Real Estate · Search Real Estate Index · FAQ · Frequently Asked Questions · Today · Yesterday · This Week · Last Week · This Month · Last Month · X · To cancel, click 'Cancel', or press ...
Vital Records - Birth & Death Certificates
Official Free
Applicant/requestors must submit proof of their relationship or documentation to establish their legal interest in obtaining vital records (e.g., birth or marriage certificates, certified court orders, insurance policies). Certificates are released only to the applicant/requestor and upon proof of identification. We will contact you with questions. Certificates are not available at time of order. To receive a standard certificate, you must submit the following: 1. Complete and signed Colorado Application form 2.
Other topics regarding Vital Records | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Official Free
Colorado recognizes both ceremonial and common-law marriages . Our Office of the State Registrar can provide verification for ceremonial marriages that have been registered with the state. Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (perform their own marriage ceremony).
Highland Cemetery | New Castle, CO
Official Free
Cemetery Grounds New Castle’s Cemetery was founded in 1888, the same year the Town of New Castle was incorporated. The earliest recorded burials are from 1889 . Among the first known burials were Civil War veterans who settled in New Castle ...
Pueblo Obituary Archives | Pueblo City-County Library
Official Free
The Pueblo Obituary Archive contains listings of local obituaries scanned from The Pueblo Chieftain . A scan of the obituary is available on microfilm in the Local History & Genealogy Department in the Rawlings Public Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. Pueblo, CO during normal operating hours.
Fort Logan National Cemetery - Denver County, Colorado
Official Free
Home > United States > Colorado > Denver > Fort Logan National Cemetery · Colorado Newspapers, Full Search (1859-1978), 288 titles ... Records of burials were provided to this website by the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs. These records may not represent the complete list of burials, only those that are on file with the VA.
Online Marriage Application - El Paso Colorado Clerk & Recorders Office Web Access
Official Free
A license to marry in Colorado may be obtained during regular business hours in the Recording Department located at the Main Office-Citizens Service Center, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and at the North Motor Vehicle Office on Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. , in accordance with the ...
Pitkin County CO Birth Certificate, Marriage & Death Records
Official Free
The Pitkin County Vital Records Office provides you with birth, death, and marriage certificates. Contact details and address here.
Police Records & Accident Reports
Official Free
The completed report will automatically notify the Records Division of your request. Please enter "Police Department" in the Payment Type, Incident/Case # in the Account Number Field (if you do not know the Incident/Case Number, enter the last name of the person you are searching), and in the Comment Section enter "SPD records request".
Tri-County Obituaries
Official Free
The first obituaries were initially contributed by the Huerfano County researchers, but as time went by we found it growing into its own Project. When we reached 25,000 obituaries we realized we would have to break it down into seperate phases. We are well on our way to hitting 100,000 obituaries!
Colorado Counties
64 Colorado counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I order a Colorado birth certificate?▼
Certified birth certificates for events in Colorado are issued by the Official Colorado Vital Records at cdphe.colorado.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a Colorado death certificate?▼
Colorado death certificates are issued by the Official Colorado Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at cdphe.colorado.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a Colorado marriage or divorce record online?▼
Colorado marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Colorado Vital Records (cdphe.colorado.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a Colorado vital record?▼
Standard Colorado vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Colorado Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at cdphe.colorado.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a Colorado certified vital record?▼
The Official Colorado Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at cdphe.colorado.gov.