Adoption in Colorado [A Complete Guide]
Adoption is a life-changing experience. It allows birth mothers to give their babies a brighter future, and it gives adoptive families a chance to fulfill their dreams of becoming a parent.
If you’re considering adoption as an expecting parent or as a hopeful adoptive couple, we can provide the guidance you need. Our experienced adoption specialists can walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have.
For more information about adoption in Colorado, you can contact us online or call 1-800-ADOPTION. You can also visit one of our Colorado office locations to speak with someone in person:
Denver
1-800-ADOPTION
Colorado Springs
1-800-ADOPTION
Arvada
1-800-ADOPTION
How to Put a Baby Up for Adoption in Colorado
Placing your baby for adoption is a brave, selfless decision. You love them enough to put their needs above your own.
Many of our staff members are birth moms, adoptees and adoptive families, so we understand the emotional journey you are on. We’re here to provide support and answer your questions.
Here’s what the adoption process typically looks like:
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Step 1: Contact an adoption agency. A licensed adoption agency like American Adoptions of Colorado can help you understand your options and make informed decisions. Contact us today.
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Step 2: Create an adoption plan for your journey. Our adoption specialists can draft a plan for the adoption based on your preferences and needs.
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Step 3: Choose the ideal adoptive family for your baby. We have hundreds of waiting adoptive family profiles with photos, videos and letters for you to review.
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Step 4: Give birth at your preferred hospital. You are in control of the adoption process, so you get to decide where you give birth and who you want to hold the baby first.
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Step 5: Move forward as a birth mother. If you want, you can choose to have an open adoption and keep in contact with your baby’s adoptive family.
How to Adopt a Baby in Colorado
As a hopeful adoptive parent, you likely have your own reasons for choosing adoption. While your story and adoption journey will be unique, you can expect the process to involve five general steps:
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Step 1: Choose an adoption professional. We are regulated by Colorado authorities, so you can trust our wait times and cost estimates as you plan to grow your family through adoption.
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Step 2: Complete your home study. In order to adopt, a licensed social worker will need to verify that you have a safe, stable home and are ready to adopt.
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Step 3: Wait for an adoption opportunity. After creating an adoptive family profile, couples and individuals who work with us wait an average of 12 months.
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Step 4: Get to know the expecting parents. If the pregnant woman wants an open adoption, you can typically meet her on a conference call with one of our adoption specialists.
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Step 5: Legally finalize the adoption. Your baby will become an official member of your family on your finalization day in court.
Adoption Agencies in Colorado
Here are a few agency options depending on the type of adoption you’re pursuing:
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Private domestic adoption
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Foster care adoption
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International adoption
Local Colorado Adoption Information
Adoption regulations vary between states and even counties. If you want to adopt a child in Colorado, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the local laws. You can click one of the cities below to find more information specific to your area:
Types of Adoption in Colorado
There are four different types of adoption you can pursue based on your family-building goals:
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Infant adoption: With this type of adoption, a pregnant woman directly places her infant with your family. Typically, a private domestic agency facilitates the adoption.
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Foster care adoption: You can adopt a child in foster care if reunification with their birth family isn’t possible. However, most foster care placements are initially temporary.
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International adoption: International adoption involves adopting a child from another country. You will want to make sure you work with a Hague-accredited agency.
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Stepparent adoption: If your spouse has children who aren’t biologically related to you, you may want to assume legal responsibility for them. Many stepparents choose to adopt to demonstrate their love and commitment.
Colorado Adoption Laws
There are several state-specific adoption regulations you want to be aware of if you’re an expecting parent or a hopeful adoptive family:
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Adoption professionals: In Colorado, adoptions must be handled by a licensed adoption agency. This means that individuals or private entities, such as hopeful adoptive families, lawyers or facilitators, cannot advertise or manage the process on their own.
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Financial assistance: According to Colorado law, expecting parents can receive financial assistance for attorney fees as well as other court-approved expenses. This often includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, prenatal appointments and other pregnancy-related costs.
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Birth fathers: For an adoption to proceed, both birth parents must consent unless a parent’s rights have been terminated by the court or the parent has abandoned the child for more than one year. A birth father generally has the right to know about the adoption and contest it if he doesn’t agree with it. We can help pregnant women navigate paternity rights.
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Consent to the adoption: Birth parents can consent to adoption any time after the child is born. This consent must be given in writing and signed in the presence of a notary.
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ICPC: The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) law protects children in interstate adoptions. Adoptive parents must stay in the state where the baby is born until they receive clearance to travel.
Colorado Adoption Requirements
There are no requirements to place your child for adoption. You can choose this option regardless of your financial situation, citizenship status or other circumstances. If you have questions or need support, our adoption specialists are available 24/7 online or at 1-800-ADOPTION.
If you’re looking to adopt a child, you will need to meet certain criteria. For instance, individuals convicted of felonies related to child abuse or neglect, violence or sexual crimes cannot adopt. For more information about adoptive family requirements, fill out our quick form.
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt in Colorado?
It’s estimated that private adoptions start at $30,000. The total cost depends on factors such as your agency, the services you use, attorney fees and living expenses for the pregnant woman.
Because adoption is a significant investment, we offer insurance protection in case the pregnant woman decides to parent her baby. This direct refund gives you the financial flexibility to make the best decision for your family. Many hopeful adoptive parents choose to put the money toward another adoption opportunity, but some opt to take a break or work with a different agency.
Foster care adoption has a much lower cost. Because the children available for foster care adoption are already born, you won’t need to cover pregnancy-related expenses. The primary costs will be legal fees and the home study.
Financial Assistance for Adoption in Colorado
If you’re placing your baby for adoption, you can receive financial assistance to cover your medical costs, legal fees and living expenses.
If you’re looking to adopt and need funding, you can apply for adoption grants or loans. Grants are awarded to couples or individuals who meet certain criteria, whereas loans must be repaid within a set timeframe. Our adoption specialists can explain our costs, help you budget and assist you in finding possible funding sources.
Other Adoption Professionals in Colorado
Here are four adoption professionals you may need to work with in Colorado:
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Attorneys: Adoption involves a lot of paperwork. Although attorneys can’t manage your adoption, they can help you understand your rights.
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Home study agencies: Hopeful adoptive families must complete a home study if they want to move forward with any type of adoption. As a fully licensed Colorado adoption agency, we can handle this step of the process.
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Adoption social workers: These licensed professionals provide support to expecting parents and conduct home studies for adoptive families.
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Foster care services: Our agency only facilitates private domestic adoptions, but we can refer you to a trusted foster care agency in Colorado.
Looking for more free information about adoption in Colorful Colorado? Fill out our online contact form today or call 1-800-ADOPTION.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.