1.  There are two routes for adopting within Colorado: adopting through a private agency or adopting through a county agency. No third party involvement is allowed. If you’re primarily looking to adopt a child under the age of 5 or want to expand your search to include the entire United States, you will most likely be working with a private agency. Cost does differ between the two types of agencies as well.
2.  A “special needs” label may not be what you think. Within the state of Colorado, children may have a label of “special needs” if they are over the age of 5, African American or Hispanic, part of a sibling group that must stay together, have developmental delays, or have other physical, emotional, or mental delays or diagnoses.
3.  Colorado takes pride in their inclusion policy. Anyone over the age of 21 with a clean background check can apply to become a foster parent. So, come one, come all! If you wish to adopt a child in foster care, you must become a foster parent first, which means obtaining a home study and finishing your training.
4.  You do not need to live in Colorado in order to adopt from Colorado. You probably can’t live on Mars or some remote island no one has heard of, so I suppose there are a couple boundaries.
5.  Adoption assistance (both federal and state) in Colorado does exist. But, be aware of potential monthly payment fluctuations due to each county being able to handle their own negotiations.
6.  If you are interested in adopting an infant, the birth parent’s consent for the adoption can come at any time after the child is born. In order to revoke that consent, the birth parents have 91 days after they have relinquished the child to prove that consent was gained improperly (either through duress or by fraud).
7.  If you are adopting through foster care, there is no rule in the state of Colorado stating how long a child must live with adoptive parents before finalizing the adoption. However, in 2014 it was found that, on average, it took about 13 months between the termination of parental rights and the finalization of the adoption in Colorado, so don’t go in assuming it’ll happen as quickly as you wish. With adoption, it rarely does.

If you are ready to jump in and start your adoption journey within the state of Colorado, start by figuring out the age of the child(ren) you wish to pursue. Once you have decided that, Colorado has essentially laid out your path for you.

Do you feel there is a hole in your heart that can only be filled by a child? We’ve helped complete 32,000+ adoptions. We would love to help you through your adoption journey. Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98.

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And don’t forget to check out this complete guide to adopting in Colorado. It’s got tons of great information whether you’re adopting an infant, from foster care, internationally, or a stepchild.

1. You do not have to live in Colorado to adopt a child from Colorado.

2. Colorado offers post-adoption financial assistance.

3. At 18 or older, adoptees have access to all adoption records. You can read this guide to search and reunion.

4. Birth parents have access to all adoption records.

5. Many children in Colorado may be labeled as having special needs, which may be defined by:

• A child who has siblings who need to remain together.
• A child who may be 5 years of age or older,
• The child may be African-American or Hispanic.
• There’s a chance the child has a developmental disability such as Down syndrome.
• There is also a chance the child has been diagnosed as having a physical or emotional disability including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

6. Colorado does not restrict potential adoptive families based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientations, gender identity, or marital status. Of course, if you have a history of child abuse, you’ll be immediately disqualified for any type of adoption.

7. To adopt in Colorado, you must be at least 21 years of age, become a certified foster parent, pass a background check, complete training, and a home study, and you must be able to demonstrate that you possess sound judgment and live a mature lifestyle. Sounds doable, right?

8. No paternity registry exists in Colorado.

9. There is no required timeframe for the child to live with adoptive parents before finalization.

10. Post-adoption contact agreements are not legally enforceable.

Are you ready to pursue adoption? Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98 to connect with compassionate, nonjudgmental adoption specialists who can help you get started on the journey of a lifetime.

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