How Can We Pay for This?

If you’re arriving without US cash or a US checking account, arranging a money order ahead of time is generally the easiest fix for the one step that gives international couples trouble: the apostille office’s cash/check/money-order-only policy. Payment methods are the kind of detail nobody thinks to check until they’re standing at a counter, so here’s what we know so far for each step.

The apostille step: cash, check, or money order only

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Authentications office does not accept credit or debit cards. You’ll need cash, a personal check, or a money order. If you’re traveling internationally and don’t normally carry US cash or hold a US checking account, this is worth planning for specifically; a money order is generally the easiest option to arrange without either. See the apostille process for the full walkthrough of this step.

The license fee itself

County methods for the $30 license fee vary: some may take cards, others may be cash- or check-only. Check the county list for what’s confirmed so far, and confirm directly with your specific county before your appointment so you’re not caught out.

Where a county does take cards, expect a convenience fee on top: Boulder County’s marriage license page discloses $0.75 plus 2.26% of the total for card payments, Denver charges a flat 2.5% surcharge, Adams charges 3%, and Arapahoe adds a flat $2. A fee in that rough range is typical for government payment processors generally. Some counties skip cards or checks entirely: Weld and Elbert are cash-only if you apply in person (Elbert does take card if you apply through its online self-service portal instead), and El Paso and Douglas explicitly don’t accept personal checks. It’s a small amount on a $30 license, but it applies to certified copies and any other card payment in the process too. See what does it actually cost for the full admin cost breakdown.

The safe default

Until the county list has your specific county confirmed, the safe move is to bring cash or a checkbook for the license fee, and definitely bring cash, a check, or a money order for the apostille step; don’t count on being able to pay by card for either.