Adoption — Stepparent & Kinship
By Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr., Colorado court-appointed Child and Family Investigator. Making family official in Colorado — stepparent, kinship, and custodial adoptions, start to finish.
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On the Legal Front Lines · Former Government Investigator, Denver Human Services · Licensed Colorado Attorney · 20+ Years in Private Practice · Former Colorado Deputy District Attorney · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator
The happiest cases we handle
Adoption under Colorado’s Children’s Code (C.R.S. § 19-5-201) is one of the few times families come to a lawyer with good news. The work is building a careful record — because an adoption that’s done wrong can be challenged later.
Ready when you are — talk it through with Attorney Liken.
Start here: a no-charge 20-minute phone call directly with Attorney Liken.
Do it once, do it right
The termination-of-rights piece is where stepparent adoptions get contested years later. We build a careful record to support a durable adoption.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of adoption does the firm handle?
Stepparent and kinship adoptions are the most common, where a stepparent or relative becomes the child's legal parent. These are among the most rewarding family-law matters and, when everyone agrees, among the most straightforward.
Does the other biological parent have to consent to a stepparent adoption?
Usually yes. A stepparent adoption generally requires terminating the other legal parent's rights, either by consent or by court order where grounds such as abandonment or non-support exist. That termination is the heart of the case.
How long does a stepparent adoption take in Colorado?
Uncontested stepparent adoptions often finish in a few months, depending on the court's schedule and whether the other parent consents. Contested cases, where rights must be terminated over objection, take longer.
Will there be a home study?
Stepparent and kinship adoptions are frequently exempt from the full home study required in other adoptions, though the court can still order background checks. The firm tells you what your specific case requires.
Take the first step. We'll take it from there.
No-charge 20-minute phone consultation directly with Attorney Liken.