You may visit our Citizens Service Center office to obtain a copy of a recorded document. You can also order by mailing a written request, along with the fees and the return to address, to El Paso County Clerk & Recorder. The address is P.O. Box 2007, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-2007. For copies of a marriage or civil union license please include the names of both parties and date of the marriage or civil union.

Copy fees are $0.25 per page, marriage and civil union license copies are $0.25 each and plat map copies are $3.00 per page. Certified copies are a $1.00 per document. For copies to be returned by mail, these handling fees will apply. 1-10 Pages-$1.25 (plus 0.25 per page copy fee). 11-20 Pages-$2.00 (plus .25 per page copy fee). Over 20 pages-$2.50 (plus .25 per page copy fee).

For plat map copies to be returned by mail, these handling fees will apply. 1-2 Pages-$3.00 (plus $3.00 per page copy fee). 3 Pages-$3.50 (plus $3.00 per page copy fee). Over 3 Pages-$6.50 (plus $3.00 per page copy fee).

You can pay for your order with credit/debit cards by phone or in person at any of our Clerk and Recorder locations. Check or money order should be made payable to: El Paso County Clerk & Recorder. Documents recorded prior to 1996 are only at the Citizens Service Center location.

Forms are at most office supply stores. Some also can be found in our Forms Library.

There are specific types of instruments that may be needed based on the current status of ownership of real property. Therefore you should consult a title company or real estate attorney. Forms are at most office supply stores.

To obtain a copy of a divorce decree filed in El Paso County, contact the Fourth Judicial District Court at 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, via Phone: 719-452-5000 or online.

For information about wills or probate, contact the Fourth Judicial District Court at 270 S. Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Phone: 719-452-5000 or online.

At least one of the parties must apply in person at any of our Clerk and Recorder locations. If one of the parties cannot appear in person, he or she must complete an affidavit provided by our office. The signature on the document must be notarized. Both parties must present valid identification. Passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates and military cards are all valid forms of ID. The fee for a marriage license is $30 by cash or credit/debit card.

Both parties will be asked to give the last four digits of their Social Security Number. If a party does not have a social security number, they must complete an affidavit supplied by our office. If one of the parties was previously married, they must provide the date, city and state of divorce or death. If divorced, the type of court (district, circuit) must also be provided.

Parties must be 18 years or older. 16 and 17 year olds – a juvenile court must determine if a marriage license may be obtained. Persons under 16 years old can’t obtain a marriage license.

A marriage license is valid for 35 days. The ceremony must take place within 35 days of the date of the marriage license.

At least one of the parties must apply in person at any of our Clerk and Recorder locations. If one of the parties cannot appear in person, he or she must complete, with notarized signature, an affidavit provided by our office. Both parties must present valid identification. Passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates and military cards are all valid forms of ID. The fee for a civil union license is $30 by cash or credit/debit card.

Both parties will be asked to provide their social security numbers. If one of the parties was previously married or in a civil union, he or she must provide the date, city and state of divorce or death. For divorce, the type of court (district, circuit) and the name of the previous partner must also be provided.

Parties must be 18 years of age or older. If a party is 18 years of age or older and under guardianship, written consent of the guardian is required.

A civil union license is valid for 35 days. The ceremony must take place within 35 days of the date of the civil union license.

To obtain a birth or death certificate filed in El Paso County, contact the Vital Records Division of the County Health Dept. at 719-575-8492 or online at https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/

The Social Security Administration provides information about Social Security card name changes. Colorado Springs Social Security Office is at 1049 N. Academy Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80909. Phone: 800-772-1213 or 888-880-068.

The Colorado Department of Revenue provides name change requirements for Driver’s Licenses. Colorado Department of Revenue is at 2447 North Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. Phone: (719) 594-8701.

The U.S. Department of State provides information about a U.S. passport name change. Phone: (877) 487-2778.

A lien or title search is not performed by the county clerk. Owners may search records online themselves. They can also pay a title company or land research company to perform the search for them. You may search the El Paso County Assessor’s Real Estate Parcel Search to find the owner of a piece of property.

The lender (company that held the mortgage) will file a Release of Deed of Trust with the office of the Public Trustee requesting the removal of the lien on the property. This document then will be recorded in our office. If you do not receive a copy from the lender you may contact our Recording Department. To obtain a copy by email send a request to copyrequests@elpasoco.com.

There are several steps you as a property owner can take to help guard against property fraud:

• Check the Clerk and Recorder’s Recording website at www.epcrecords.com at least once a year to verify no deeds or mortgages have been recorded on your property without your consent.
• Verify the El Paso County Assessor’s Office has the correct mailing address for you or the person who should receive notices about your property.
• Contact the El Paso County Assessor’s Office and Treasurer’s Office if you stop receiving your property notifications and tax bills.
• If your property is vacant, check it often to make sure it is not occupied illegally. Ask someone you trust to look after your home if you are going to be away for a long period of time.
• Do not let mail or newspapers pile up if you are going out of town.
• Make sure your legal will clearly states who should inherit your property.
• When a family member passes away and someone else inherits the property, make sure you update the deed with the new owner’s name.
• Discuss with your trusted family members before making any decisions that affect ownership of your property, such as adding or removing someone from a deed or taking out a new mortgage, reverse mortgage, or second mortgage. If you feel it prudent, you may want to consult a lawyer.

A new deed will need to be recorded for the change in ownership. Use of an attorney or a title company is not required. However, it is highly recommended to use one to ensure the process is done properly. Here is a Quit Claim Deed informational sheet about the process.

Most ILC surveys are not recorded. A title company only orders one prior to a closing if there is a concern about correct property lines. An owner may pay to have their property surveyed and choose to record it. However, it’s not required to be recorded.

A written description that specifically identifies a piece of property’s boundaries using permanent landmarks or monuments, and the lots and blocks on a recorded plat when possible. You can find a legal description of a property on the El Paso County Assessor’s website.

Blueprints are retained by the builder, though sometimes a copy is given to the original buyer.

Irrevocable trusts are registered with the El Paso County Judicial Building. Revocable trusts are not registered. It may be retained by the attorney that created it, or by the trustors themselves.

This is between the property owners that are affected by the fence. Legal advice is recommended before proceeding.

The Secretary of State administers apostilles on certified copies of documents and notarization of documents.

Well permits are issued by the Colorado Division of Water Resources.

A Release of Lien must be recorded that states the lien has been paid or released. These are signed and recorded by the lien claimant.

Contact the Probate Division for the 4th Judicial District Courthouse in El Paso County.

Contact the El Paso County Assessor’s Office at (719) 520-6600. If it was missed, they can review the deed and make the change. If there was an issue with the conveyance, they will say so and send a letter.

A title company can provide an Ownership & Encumbrances Report (O&E) that will show released liens, any open liens, and the owner per the current deed.