Title 14, Domestic Matters

This article is known as the Colorado Civil Union Act. Source: L. 2013: Entire article added, (SB 13-011), ch. 49, p. 147, � 1, effective May 1.

The general assembly declares that the purpose of this article 15 is to provide eligible couples the opportunity to obtain the benefits, protections, and responsibilities afforded by Colorado law to spouses consistent with the principles of equality under law and religious freedo…

As used in this article 15, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Civil union means a relationship established by two eligible persons pursuant to this article that entitles them to receive the benefits and protections and be subject to the responsibilities of spouses. (2) C…

(1) To establish a civil union in Colorado, the two parties to the civil union shall satisfy all of the following criteria: (a) Both parties are adults, regardless of the gender of either party; (b) Neither party is a party to another civil union; (c) Neither party is married to …

(1) An individual shall not enter into a civil union with an ancestor or a descendant or with a brother or a sister, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood. (2) An individual shall not enter into a civil union with an uncle or aunt or with a niece or nephew, w…

(1) A county clerk and recorder shall not issue a civil union license if either party to the intended civil union is: (a) Under eighteen years of age; or (b) Eighteen years of age or older and under guardianship, unless the party under guardianship has the written consent of his …

(1) A party to a civil union has the rights, benefits, protections, duties, obligations, responsibilities, and other incidents under law as are granted to or imposed upon spouses, whether those rights, benefits, protections, duties, obligations, responsibilities, and other incide…

(1) Parties to a civil union may create agreements modifying the terms, conditions, or effects of a civil union in the manner specified in part 3 of article 2 of this title. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the provisions of this article and t…

(1) The executive director of the department shall prescribe the form for an application for a civil union license, consisting of, at a minimum, the following information: (a) Name, sex, address, social security number, and date and place of birth of each party to the proposed ci…

(1) When both parties to a proposed civil union complete a civil union application and at least one party appears, or both parties appeared if permitted pursuant to section 14-2-106.5, before the county clerk and recorder and pays to the county clerk and recorder the civil union …

(1) A county clerk and recorder may permit the parties to a proposed civil union to satisfy the requirement to appear before the county clerk and recorder by an interactive audiovisual communication technology or online functionality, for the following limited purposes: (a) To ve…

The county clerk and recorder shall issue a civil union license only during the hours that the office of the county clerk and recorder is open as prescribed by law and at no other time and shall show the exact date and hour of the license's issue. New civil union licenses issued …

(1) A civil union may be certified by a judge of a court, by a district court magistrate, by a county court magistrate, by a retired judge of a court, by the parties to the civil union, or in accordance with any mode of recognition of a civil union by any religious denomination o…

Persons authorized by section 14-15-112 to certify civil unions shall require a civil union license from the parties before certifying the civil union. Source: L. 2013: Entire article added, (SB 13-011), ch. 49, p. 154, � 1, effective May 1.

A copy of the civil union certificate received from the county clerk and recorder or a record of the civil union received from the state registrar is presumptive evidence of the civil union in all courts. Source: L. 2013: Entire article added, (SB 13-011), ch. 49, p. 154, � 1, ef…

(1) Any person who enters into a civil union in Colorado consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of Colorado for the purpose of any action relating to a civil union even if one or both parties cease to reside in this state. (2) The district court has jurisdiction over all proc…

(1) Repealed. (2) Under principles of comity, a civil union, domestic partnership, or substantially similar legal relationship between two persons that is legally created in another jurisdiction shall be deemed to be a civil union for purposes of Colorado law as set forth in this…

(1) The general assembly finds that some partners in a civil union may legally have their federal taxable income determined on either separate federal tax returns or on a joint federal tax return. Since Colorado income tax filings are tied to the federal income tax form by requir…

This article 15 does not create a marriage between the parties to a civil union. Source: L. 2013: Entire article added, (SB 13-011), ch. 49, p. 155, � 1, effective May 1. L. 2025: Entire section amended, (SB 25-014), ch. 51, p. 226, � 4, effective April 7. 14-15-118.5. Constructi…

(1) When parties who have entered into a civil union pursuant to this article subsequently marry, the effect is a merger of the two relationship statuses. Once merged, the civil union terminates as of the date of the solemnization of the marriage or determination of a common law …

If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this article that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the p…