Vital Records Online (VRO) is a simple and secure US-based platform that allows you to easily order your Colorado birth, death, and marriage certificates online. Rest assured that your documents will arrive safely while your information remains confidential.
Summary:
Colorado, “the Centennial State,” because it joined the union one century after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Colorado’s population is estimated at 5.8 million. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulates public health and the environment. Vital records are maintained by each county’s Vital Records Office (VR). These offices are responsible for the statewide registration and preservation of birth, adoption, death, fetal death, marriage, and divorce registers.
Parents, adult children, and grandparents can request a Colorado-certified birth certificate. Spouses, siblings, adult children, and grandparents are approved to order certified death certificates. Family members may order a certified marriage certificate. Other parties that show cause may request vital records from a Colorado Vital Statistics Office.
If you’re doing an ancestry search, the vital statistics offices can help, or try the many available public archives.
Learn to obtain certified copies of official Colorado vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce. Find out what information they contain, where to get them, and why they are important in your possession.
Start Your Application Online for CO Vital Records
Request a certified copy of live birth for your baby or child.
Obtain marriage records for yourself or a family member.
Get an original copy of a death certificate replacement for a lost record.
Vital records such as birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates are essential for many events in life. They can prove identity, citizenship, and family relationships and assist in resolving legal disputes or claiming inheritances. These records are also valuable tools for researching family history, providing details about our ancestors, such as their full names, dates of birth and death, and locations. If your birth, marriage, death, or divorce certificate has been lost or stolen, you must file a police report and request a certified replacement as soon as possible.
Each county in Colorado can issue and certify vital records. To locate where to request a certificate in your county, refer to the complete list of Colorado vital records offices containing locations, contact information, and links to the online applications for ordering birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates. All vital records are issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s state vital records office.
❗️ If you’re seeking ancestral records for genealogy research in Colorado, they are freely available from various public archives.
Visiting the Vital Records Office
Ordering Vital Records Online
Residents of Colorado have a few options when ordering vital records. It’s possible to apply in person or by mail, although online requests are the most reliable and convenient option. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment produces and certifies copies of vital records for authorized applicants who fulfill the eligibility requirements and follow the guidelines for requesting certificates. The procedure and prerequisites vary between birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates, but the process is straightforward once the requirements are understood.
The type of certificate you need and how you order will affect the costs, eligibility criteria, requirements, and processing times.
Ordering Colorado vital records online with VRO is quick and involves two simple steps:
Authorized individuals can apply for a Colorado birth, death, divorce, or marriage certificate online. Ensure that you have the required documents ready before you start the application. You will be prompted to upload copies of the documents during the online application.
VRO simplifies collecting and generating the documents required for your request. It also shows you how and where to submit them. Applicants can quickly complete the entire process in just five minutes from any internet-enabled device. Additionally, VRO helps users avoid application rejections due to mistakes or missing information**.**
✔︎ Additional copies of your certified vital records can be purchased for the state’s fee during the online application to save future costs.
✔︎ Learn more about how the online ordering and premium handling process works
Those who live near a vital records-issuing agency can make their requests in person by appointment through the state health department. Some county vital records offices may offer walk-ins, but be prepared to face long lines and be sure to confirm the hours of operation at the local office. Ordering via mail or online can be a more convenient and efficient option.
The procedures for requesting records in person and by mail are similar. The requirements for applying in person may vary by county, but the process will generally involve the following steps:
Additionally, to apply by mail, you will need the following:
❗️ To avoid your application being denied due to mistakes or incomplete information, review the requirements for each vital record before mailing it.
❗️ Before submitting the application, confirm if you must also have your documents and application notarized with a sworn statement for identity verification.
❗️ If you mail your application and documents manually, it is recommended to purchase mail tracking to confirm their arrival at the correct office.
Understanding the process and requirements of requesting vital records is essential. Be sure to review these before gathering the required documents for your application.
Proof of Identity for Verifying Authorization
The table below displays the information and documents required to request Colorado’s vital records certificates. Applicants must provide proof of their identity to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment when requesting certified copies of vital records. The CDPHE defines accepted primary IDs and optional secondary IDs for requesting birth, death, or marriage certificates.
What Documents Are Required to Order Vital Records in Colorado?
The eligibility conditions and requirements can vary by certificate type and applicant, so review the application and instructions relevant to your specific certificate request.
What Information is Required to Apply for Vital Records in Colorado?
When applying for a vital record in Colorado, applicants must provide key identifying information related to the record type. This may include names, dates, locations, and other relevant details to ensure accurate identification and processing of the request.
Who can request vital records in Colorado?
Certificate holders can request certified copies of their vital records but must confirm their identity by providing a valid form of identification.
If you are requesting vital records on behalf of someone else, check the eligibility requirements for each birth, death, and marriage certificate to confirm that you are authorized. You must submit additional documentation verifying your relationship with the person on record. In some circumstances, you may need to obtain a notarized statement. All requests ordered through VRO include an online notarization service, if necessary, which can be added as an extra step during checkout.
✔︎ If you can provide documentation of legal interest or hold a Power of Attorney from the person on record, you are eligible to request the vital record for that person.
Do I need a notary with my application?
The Health Department of Colorado does not require applicants to obtain notarized statements when requesting certified copies of their certificates.
❗️ A Notarized statement may be required when requesting a Colorado birth or death certificate as a genealogist or Power of Attorney.
The associated expenses of obtaining vital records certificates depend on the CDPHE’s fees for each type of certificate, the submission method, and whether or not a notary is needed.
VRO’s Application Assistant starts at $29. The CDPHE’s fees are $20.00 for a birth certificate, $17.00 for a marriage certificate, and $20.00 for a death certificate. Additional copies of the same certificate can be ordered at reduced prices: $13.00 for each additional copy of a birth or death certificate and $10.00 for each additional copy of a marriage certificate.
✔︎ Additional copies can be requested during the same order at reduced prices to save future costs in case your vital records are lost, destroyed, or stolen.
✔︎ Additional copies can be requested in the same order to save future costs from shipping and notary if your vital records are lost, destroyed, or stolen.
VitalRecordsOnline.com processing fee is $29.
How long will it take to receive my vital records from Colorado?
Processing and replacement times can differ when requesting a replacement birth, death, divorce, or marriage certificate. Current processing and delivery times are listed below. The total waiting time depends on your application submission method and required documents. Ordering through VRO simplifies gathering documents and submitting your application packet with options to expedite your order.
❗️ We advise allowing 2-3 additional days in your application process if you use a local public notary.
❗️ A simple error, typo, or missing document can cause wait times to double, repeat shipping costs, or expose personal information.
You can easily track your application’s progress when ordering your certificate with VRO by viewing your order status. After your application packet ships, you can monitor its journey to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment with first-class mail tracking.
If mailing your application manually, purchasing First-class mail tracking is advised to let you know when your application arrives successfully. The CDPHE ships all documents via first-class mail for extra security; however, it is not responsible for any lost documents. If your birth certificate is lost, you should file a report immediately.
Note that simple errors, typos, or missing documents can delay waiting times, incur repeat shipping costs, or risk exposure to your personal information.
❓ Find more frequently asked questions below the Colorado counties office locations directory.
An Apostille is required when submitting vital records certificates to a foreign government. All apostilles for Colorado birth, death, and marriage certificates initially filed with the CDPHE must be requested from the Secretary of State’s office.
How can I get an apostille for vital records?
You can secure apostilles for Colorado vital records with VRO or directly through the Secretary of State’s office.
VRO offers reliable apostille services across all 50 US states and is acknowledged by various governments and organizations as having legal validity in over 100 countries. The service covers apostilles for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, all with professional assistance. Starting at $149 (plus government fees), the entire process can be conveniently completed online in just three steps.
Upon completion of your apostille documentation, it will be dispatched to you through FedEx or DHL. The delivery will arrive at your doorstep regardless of location— in the U.S. or elsewhere. We rely on esteemed courier services for global delivery.
If you are manually sending your certificates, you will need to include the following in your request:
All requests, whether sent by standard mail, express shipping (UPS, DHL, or Federal Express) or brought in in person, should be submitted to the following address:
Colorado Secretary of State, 1700 Broadway, Ste. 550, Denver, CO 80290
You can reach the office at 303-894-2200 or https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/apostilles/home.html.
Simultaneous requests by mail:
✉️ Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Vital Records Section
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
Ensure that you specify on the application form that you need an apostille and indicate the country to which the document will be submitted. The fee for a death certificate is $20.00, and the apostille fee is $5.00.
❓ For more information about simultaneous death certificate replacements and apostilles requests, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website or contact the office at (303) 692-2200.
The CDPHE provides a list of situations requiring an amendment to a person’s birth or death certificate.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides a straightforward procedure for amending birth or death certificates. The CDPHE does not handle corrections to marriage certificates. Contact your local County Clerk’s office if you need to amend your marriage and divorce certificate. Different forms must be completed depending on the certificate type and the information being amended. All changes or corrections are made as addendums to the original record; the original documents cannot be altered.
The documents and information required to correct or amend a certificate vary depending on which vital record needs changing and what information should be changed.
Typically, requests to correct or amend vital records will require the following:
Learn more about correcting or amending birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates.
Where can I search for free public records?
In Colorado, vital records, including birth, death, adoption, marriage, and divorce, are confidential per Colorado state statute. However, you can view the complete list of counties and the archives they provide.
Are Colorado Vital Records Open to the Public?
While Colorado has abundant vital records available to the public, full access to birth, death, and marriage certificates is generally only available for events before 1908.
Third-party websites can be helpful sources of information for researching vital records. These websites are not bound by geographic location and can be good reference points. However, their data may differ from that found in official government records. If you are searching for records on a third-party website, you will need to provide the following information:
Colorado residents have the right under the Colorado Open Records Act “CORA” to inspect or obtain copies of public vital records.
The physical appearance of a vital record certificate can differ depending on which state, county, or municipality issued it. You can confirm that your certificate is an official (certified) copy rather than an informational one. Informational copies usually have a stamp or large print on the front stating “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity.”
Authorized Copy:
Authorized copies of vital records are certified legal documents that can be used officially as identification. Authorized copies are typically restricted to individuals with a “direct and tangible interest” in the record.
If you need an authorized birth, death, divorce, or marriage certificate, you must verify your identity by providing a valid form of identification. Failing to do so will result in your application being rejected, so be sure to check the accepted forms of ID. If you request records that are not your own, you must provide additional documentation, which may require notarization.
Informational Copy:
Colorado’s informational (heirloom) copies of Colorado birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates are primarily intended for personal or commemorative use and some official purposes, as they are still considered “certified” documents. These can be great keepsakes to celebrate milestones like a new birth in the family, a wedding anniversary, or to honor the memory of a deceased loved one.
However, it’s important to note that while these heirloom copies are certified, they may only sometimes be accepted as legal documents for most legal purposes. They usually display a declaration such as “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity” or similar, indicating they cannot be used for official purposes.
If you need a vital record for official purposes, request an authorized or certified copy from the relevant issuing agency. Informational copies of a birth certificate are unauthorized for use to apply for a passport or driver’s license, enroll in school, or claim benefits.
Find more references for birth, death, and marriage certificates in the resources section.
Visit the official Colorado government website at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecords
