Can I Choose Adoption in Colorado Without the Birth Father’s Consent?
By Alex Reza
As a birth mother seeking adoption, you will need the birth father’s consent. Your child cannot be legally adopted without the consent of both parents. In most states, including Colorado, the birth father has rights when it comes to the adoption of their child. However, there can be some exceptions. For example, if the father of your child refuses to acknowledge the child as his own and denies paternity, then you can move forward with the adoption without his consent. There may also be an instance where the birth father’s identity is not known. In this case, you can proceed without his consent if a father does not claim to be a presumed father with the court. The most important consideration will always be the welfare of your child.
An unplanned pregnancy can complicate your relationship with the birth father in any relationship. You both may not be ready to raise a child. This is not unusual, and that is why placing your baby up for adoption may be the best choice. Private adoption Colorado is available to help guide you through the adoption process and the complex issue of consent. Our specialists at our Denver adoption agency will connect you to legal advisors that will assist you with the intricacies of the consent process. They will also help you with the decisions you will need to make when putting together your adoption plan.
If you need adoption help now, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption Choices of Colorado.
How does the state of Colorado define a birth father?
Colorado defines a birth father as the biological father of your child. If you are married at the time of your child’s birth, your husband would be considered the biological or presumed father and have legal rights. Even if you are not married, he would still be considered the child’s presumed father, especially if you live together. However, his paternity would still need to be legally established. A paternity test can validate if he is your child’s father. Colorado has adopted the Uniform Parentage Act; this gives a presumed father rights under Colorado law.
It may sound a bit complicated, but don’t be concerned. Adoption Choices of Colorado can guide you through the adoption process, and an adoption attorney can help you navigate the legal issues pertaining to adoption in Colorado. We know it may sound complicated, but we will make it easy for you to understand. You will have an adoption specialist that will be there for you so you can make informed decisions as to what will be best for you and your child.
Navigating the process of consent without the birth father
As the birth mother, you generally have more importance when it comes to making the decisions about putting a child up for adoption. If the birth father is unknown or unsupportive and has abandoned your child, his consent will not be required. If a father is unwilling to provide financial support for his child or is unfit, then his consent will also not be required. You may find that the father of your child will deny paternity because he does not want to take responsibility. If this occurs, then his rights will be legally terminated, and his consent will not be necessary. To help determine the necessity of the birth father’s consent, please contact Private adoption, Colorado. We will help you to understand the legal requirements of adoption in the state of Colorado.
If the birth father agrees to place your child up for adoption, then both of you can be involved in the adoption plan. It is generally less complicated if both parents are involved. However, if you do not need the birth father’s consent, then you will make all the decisions. For further help, please click on this link, private adoption Colorado, and we will give you the necessary resources to protect not only your rights but the rights of your child. We will also provide the free legal representation necessary to assist in the consent process.
The importance of an adoption plan
It is important to have an adoption plan. This will help you navigate through the consent process and ensure everything is being done according to Colorado law. Don’t be concerned if the birth father is no longer in the picture, as you can still move forward with the adoption. If your relationship with the birth father is complicated, abusive, or contentious, then your attorneys will offer legal advice on how to handle this situation. It is possible that you will be able to proceed with the adoption without his consent under these circumstances. What is most important is the safety of you and your child. If the birth father is absent or does not want to acknowledge he is the father, a judge can grant you sole parental rights. This will allow you to proceed with the adoption without the involvement of the birth father.
We are here to help
Most importantly, Adoption Choices of Colorado will provide you with support throughout your adoption journey. Deciding on adoption is an emotional process, which is why we want you to know that we are here to assist in any way we can! We understand that an unplanned pregnancy can be stressful. As a birth mother, you will have the help that you will need in determining how to place your baby up for adoption. We will be there with you every step of the way for your most important decision, figuring out who will adopt your baby.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!