How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Colorado?

You adopt your stepchild in Colorado by filing a petition in the District Court in your county, with the required consents and paperwork, and you can do this yourself without an attorney. Colorado has no minimum residency period, and it does not require a home study for stepparent adoptions (C.R.S. § 19-5-209(1)). The process typically takes 3-6 months.

Who can adopt. You must be 21 or older (C.R.S. § 19-5-202). A minor may petition only with court approval.

Where you file. Stepparent adoptions are filed in the District Court. Colorado has 64 counties, including the ones around Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins and Lakewood. Venue is addressed in C.R.S. §§ 19-5-201, 19-5-204. Your county's District Court clerk can confirm local filing details and forms.

The basic steps:

• Gather your information. You will need details about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the child's other biological parent.
• Address the other parent's rights. Either the other biological parent consents, or your situation falls under Colorado's abandonment provision. That provision refers to a period of 12 months (C.R.S. § 19-5-203(1)(d)(II)).
• Get your stepchild's consent if needed. A child who is 12 or older must consent to their own adoption (C.R.S. § 19-5-203).
• Prepare and file your petition. You file it with the District Court and pay the filing fee, which typically runs $200-$500.
• Complete the court's review. Your clerk can tell you how your county schedules this.

No home study. Colorado does not require a home study for stepparent adoptions, so you can skip that step, which often adds time and cost elsewhere.

Name change. You can change your stepchild's last name as part of the adoption at no additional cost.

Cost. Court filing fees are typically $200-$500. Attorneys commonly charge $3,000-$5,000+ for a stepparent adoption, while families who prepare their own paperwork typically spend under $1,000 in total.

If the other parent hasn't been involved. Many stepparents ask this. The abandonment provision above is the part of Colorado law that relates to a parent who has had no contact. Whether it applies to you depends on your facts: dates, contact history and any communication or support. If the other parent might object, if you don't know where they are, or if their rights are unclear, ask the District Court clerk about procedure and consider talking with an attorney about your specific situation.

After the adoption. The adoption brings benefits such as inheritance rights, medical decision-making authority, and eligibility for Social Security and insurance benefits. For an updated birth certificate, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Vital Records, and ask the clerk what documents you will need from the court.

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 county.