The Adoption Finalization Process in Colorado
After going through the initial steps of the adoption process, you’re now coming up to the end of your journey. That means you still need to go through the adoption finalization process. This must be done before your child is placed in their adoptive home. The adoption finalization process is an intricate one. There are specific steps your adoption counselor will let you know. There are several responsibilities dedicated to the birth mother and adoptive parents separately. Each finalization can also look different from state to state. However, we at Adoption Choices of Colorado are dedicated to your success. We will let you know how the finalization process is completed.
In the finalization process, you must consult any laws that handle how to give a baby up for adoption. This includes local and federal laws. Each state has specific laws that are adhered to.
Colorado State Adoption Consent Laws
Colorado law states that written consent must be made. This can be done by the agency, social services department, or a birth parent for the adoption to go through. A child’s birth parents must end their parental rights by consenting to the adoption. When doing this, they can issue their consent any time after the child is born. Afterward, adopted parents are granted parental rights after the finalization hearing.
Consent isn’t needed when parental rights are given up due to the parent being unfit for legal guardian status. If the parent has abandoned the child or failed to provide support, consent is also not required.
Parents that choose to relinquish must petition the juvenile court. They provide the name of the child and the reasons for relinquishment. Relinquishment can be revoked within 90 days after initial entry.
Adoption Finalization Steps in Colorado
First, you as the birth mother must terminate your parental rights.
Before a child can legally be adopted into their new family, the birth parents must legally terminate their parental rights. This is in accordance with consent laws in Colorado. The parental rights are then granted to the adoptive parents afterward.
Before finalization, adoption agencies in Colorado should’ve been conducted by an adoption specialist as part of the adoption plan. The home study is to make sure the adoptive home Is suitable for your child. An adoption specialist will look into the adoptive family and make sure they’re ready to take in your child. Among other protections placed by the legislature, the adoptive child will often have a caseworker or attorney. They are there to make sure their wishes are heard. The caseworker is there to advocate for your child In the process and will often speak on their behalf.
Colorado Adoption Finalization Hearing
In an adoption finalization hearing, the judge will issue the final decree for the adoption to be final. The court hearing usually doesn’t take too long and then this will complete the adoption process. The judge will need to swear in your adoption counselor or attorney as well as yourself. Sometimes the judge will ask you, as well as the family, several questions. In the hearing, the judge might ask the adoptive family why they chose to adopt, for example. The caseworker will look over the details of the adoption which include anything of note found during the home study. Then finally, an adoption certificate must be signed by a judge. Your child’s birth certificate will be amended. This is to reflect their adoptive family as their legal guardians instead of you.
Now is a time for celebration for you and your child’s new family. You can hold a celebration with your child’s adoptive family or with family and friends of your own. A celebration between families can help your child transition between families.
Post Placement Resources
Receiving post-placement resources is an imperative part of the adoption process. This period is dedicated to a smooth transition between the child and adoptive parents. For the birth mother, this period can mean looking into post-placement counseling. Other resources for birth mothers diluting this period include joining a support group or relocation. Depending on the type of adoption, you can carry on a relationship with your child and their family.
Start and Finish the Adoption Process with Adoption Choices of Colorado.
When you contact Adoption Choices of Colorado you not only learn how to give a baby up for adoption. You also get the care and attentiveness of adoption specialists. Contact us early in your unplanned pregnancy and get access to all the resources available to you. Search “adoption Colorado Springs” to get started on your journey.
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!