Like all states in the U.S., Colorado has laws upholding a parent’s legal right to physical and legal decision-making custody. They also have an obligation to support their child financially. Despite these inherent parental rights, the court can terminate a parent’s rights under specific circumstances, including when the parent themselves voluntarily requests a termination of their rights, such as to allow the adoption of an infant. In other cases, the termination of parental rights occurs in response to a petition…

The term parental rights refers to a parent’s legal rights and responsibilities to their child. Parents have a legal responsibility to financially support their children and the right to physical and decision-making custody. Parental rights are upheld by the Colorado court, which makes all family court decisions with the child’s best interests as its highest priority; however, there are some circumstances under which the Colorado court will terminate a parent’s rights. The termination of parental rights can occur either voluntarily…

The legal system in the United States is complex, involving multiple areas of law and distinctly separate court systems, including the criminal justice system, civil court, and family court. Each type of court has different goals, objectives, and procedures. While criminal law and family law are separate entities, it’s important to note that they sometimes intersect.  Understanding the differences between family law and criminal law in Colorado and elsewhere is important when navigating the legal system, but it’s also helpful…

Unfortunately, not everyone’s walk down the aisle ends with happily ever after—at least not together. Instead, sometimes life takes spouses down different paths, and they move forward toward separate happy endings. But before divorcing spouses in Colorado can move on, they must first end their marriage by following all of Colorado’s legal requirements. A Colorado divorce requires a fair and equitable division of marital assets and debts, a child custody plan, child support under the state’s formula, and, in some…

There are many types of adoption in Colorado, including foster care adoption, private domestic adoption, international adoption, and stepparent adoption. In all types of adoption, both living biological parents must agree to the adoption and terminate their parental rights. The only exception to this is when a parent is deceased or their parental rights were terminated due to court intervention in cases of abuse, neglect, addiction, or incarceration for violent crimes. When one parent objects to another party’s adoption of…