Home / Adoption — Stepparent & Kinship

Adoption — Stepparent & Kinship

Making family official in Colorado — stepparent, kinship, and custodial adoptions, start to finish.

Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On Colorado's Legal Front Lines Since 1995 · Government Investigator, Denver Human Services (1997–2003) · Licensed Colorado Attorney Since 2003 ~ 20+ Years in Private Practice · Colorado Deputy District Attorney (2018–2020) · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator

How We Help

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 making sure it’s airtight — because an adoption that’s done wrong can be challenged later.

Stepparent adoption — the most common path (C.R.S. § 19-5-203): the stepparent adopts, and the other legal parent’s rights end by consent or by a finding of abandonment or non-support.
Kinship & custodial adoption — grandparents and relatives adopting a child already in their care.
Consent & termination — when the other parent consents, and when a court can terminate for abandonment or failure to support (C.R.S. § 19-5-203(1)(d)).
The home study & final hearing — what the court requires and what the finalization day looks like.
Adult adoption — yes, Colorado lets you adopt an adult; a short, powerful proceeding.
Name change & new birth certificate — both flow from the final adoption decree.

Ready when you are — talk it through with Charles.

Your choice: no-charge 20-minute phone call OR in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Charles.

Do it once, do it right

The termination-of-rights piece is where stepparent adoptions get contested years later. We build the record so the adoption holds — permanently.

Fees you can plan around: clear fee agreements, flexible payment plans through Affirm, and secure payments with Square.
THE LONGMONT LAW FIRM
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq.
Attorney & Counselor at Law

Take the first step. We'll take it from there.

No-charge 20-minute phone consultation, or an in-depth hour ($300) — both directly with Charles.