Colorado Adoption Laws

Access to Adoption Records

Obtaining Non-Identifying Information:

Non-identifying information is available to adopted adults, adoptive parents, and descendants (age 18 or older) of deceased adopted adults.

Obtaining Identifying Information:

Identifying information is provided through an adoption registry and through provisions related to release of the original birth certificate, described below.

Using a Confidential Intermediary:

Adopted adults, adoptive parents, birth parents, and birth siblings and half-siblings age 18 or older may file a motion in the court to appoint a confidential intermediary to search for birth relatives who are older than 18. After the two parties consent, contact will be made after the court consents.

Contact:

Colorado Confidential Intermediary Services
PO Box 260460
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 237-6919
http://www.cocis.org

Using the Adoption Registry:

The following parties may use the adoption registry:

• adopted adults;
• descendants of a deceased adopted adult;
• birth siblings;
• adoptive parents for the purpose of obtaining medical information that affects an adopted person;
• birth parents and their lineal ascendants; and
• descendents of deceased genetic parents.

Both birth parents must consent for either to be matched with an adopted adult unless only one parent is named on the original birth certificate or the other birth parent is deceased or cannot be contacted.

Contact:

Colorado Voluntary Adoption Registry
Colorado Department of Health
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80222
(303) 692-2188

Obtaining an Original Birth Certificate:

For adoptions finalized after September 1, 1999, an adoptee 18 or older will automatically have access to original birth records unless a birth parent has filed a confidentiality request within 3 years of relinquishment. If an adoptee is part of an adopted sibling group, all members of the sibling group must be 18 before records can be released. If a confidentiality request is on file, the parties can still use the confidential intermediary process and mutually agree to contact and release of the original birth records. For adoptions finalized prior to September 1, 1999, birth parents and adoptees will have access to original birth records by mutual consent. Confidential intermediaries will be able to secure release of adoption records to mutually consenting parties. If the party being sought is deceased, records will be available to the searching party.

Credits: Child Welfare Information Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov)