August 4, 23

NEWS / Dog officiates Colorado marriage certificate-TikTok video

A TikTok video showing a dog officiating a Colorado marriage certificate with its paw has legal bearing, and the paw print can be interpreted by the State to be the equivalent of an officiating witness’s signature. In order for the state to recognize the marriage, the couple would also need to self-solemnize the marriage by the signing the license and submit it with their county clerk. “To further prove that Colorado weddings are superior, here’s your reminder that your dog can sign your marriage license,” the caption to the video, posted by @ElisseMills, reads. Unlike the vast majority of states which require the officiant to be a registered judge, priest, or magistrate (or a notary public in the case of Florida, Maine, or South Carolina), Colorado allows anybody to serve as the “officiating witness”. For couples self-solemnizing their matrimony, the signature of an officiating witness is not required, but is optional. Individuals who can serve as officiating witnesses do not have to be human. If you have questions about applying for a marriage certificate or getting a marriage certificate apostilled or authenticated, feel free to call us at (212) 233-7061 or e-mailing us at info@apostille.us. You may also wish to apply online at our website.