Can I adopt my stepchild if I'm in the military stationed in Colorado?

Yes, if you are a service member stationed in Colorado, you can adopt your stepchild there. Colorado has no minimum residency period for stepparent adoption (C.R.S. §§ 19-5-201, 19-5-204), so you don't have to wait out a set number of months after your orders arrive. If your home of record is in another state, or the child lives somewhere other than where you are stationed, ask the District Court clerk in the county where you plan to file how that affects your case.

Where and how it works: The case is filed in the District Court. The process is the same for military and civilian families. Colorado does not require a home study for stepparent adoptions (C.R.S. § 19-5-209(1)), which can make things easier when your schedule is unpredictable. The typical stepparent timeline is 3-6 months. Court filing fees generally run $200-$500, and your county clerk can give you the exact amount.

Consent and the other parent:

• Child's consent: A child who is 12 or older must consent to the adoption (C.R.S. § 19-5-203).
• Biological parent: The other legal parent's role depends on the facts. Colorado's abandonment period is 12 months (C.R.S. § 19-5-203(1)(d)(II)). Whether your situation meets that standard is a question for an attorney or the District Court clerk.

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

Military-specific questions: Colorado's adoption statutes in our materials don't address deployments, remote court appearances, or how a change of station affects a pending case. Ask the District Court clerk in your county how scheduling works. If you are deployed or expect orders soon, tell the clerk early. Your installation's legal assistance office can also answer questions about military benefits and enrollment once the adoption is final. If the other biological parent is also in the military, an attorney can advise on any added complications.

Why it matters for military families: Frequent moves make it more important for your legal relationship with your stepchild to be official. Adoption establishes inheritance rights, medical decision-making authority, and eligibility for Social Security and insurance benefits. It also gives you the option to change the child's name, which Colorado allows as part of the stepparent adoption process at no additional cost.

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. Your court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child, and we back our work with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 526 Colorado families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.