Are there any special requirements for adoption in Colorado?

Yes, Colorado has a few requirements worth knowing, but the process is more straightforward than many families expect: there is no minimum residency period, and a home study is not required for stepparent adoptions.

Where you file: Your petition goes to the District Court. It is filed in your county of residence, and Colorado has 64 counties, so the clerk in your county can tell you about local forms and procedures (C.R.S. §§ 19-5-201, 19-5-204).

Residency: Colorado sets no minimum residency period before you can file.

Home study: Colorado does not require a home study for stepparent adoptions (C.R.S. § 19-5-209(1)).

Child's consent: A child who is 12 or older must consent to their own adoption (C.R.S. § 19-5-203). The consent forms are a normal part of the paperwork.

Biological parent who has been absent: Colorado uses a 12-month abandonment period (C.R.S. § 19-5-203(1)(d)(II)). If the other biological parent has had no meaningful contact for a year or more, that can matter to your case. Whether it applies to your family depends on the specific facts. If the other parent objects, or you don't know where they are, ask the District Court clerk or an attorney about your situation.

Adopting parent's age: The adopting person generally must be 21 or older. A minor may petition only with court approval (C.R.S. § 19-5-202).

Name change: You can change the child's name as part of the stepparent adoption at no additional cost. For birth certificate records, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Vital Records is the agency to ask about next steps once your adoption is final.

Timeline and cost:

• A stepparent adoption in Colorado typically takes 3-6 months.
• Court filing fees typically run $200-$500, depending on the county.
• Attorney representation often costs $3,000-$5,000+, while a do-it-yourself filing with document preparation typically totals under $1,000.
• If you are unsure whether a waiting period applies in your case, the clerk can confirm it.

Adult adoption: If the person you want to adopt is 18 or older, Colorado has separate routes. A person aged 18 up to 21 may be adopted with court approval (C.R.S. § 19-5-201). Whether other requirements apply to your situation, including consents or a home study, is something to confirm with the District Court clerk or an attorney.

Why these details matter: Most delays come from missing or incorrect forms, such as a missing consent or a document prepared for the wrong county. Gathering the right paperwork up front helps the court review go smoothly.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your Colorado county. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child (or one adult adoptee) and $99 for each additional child. Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and they are backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.