E.  Service



C.R.C.P. 4(e)
C.R.S. § 19-3-503(7)
C.R.S. § 19-6-103(2)
The summons and petition must be served by personal service. The server may deliver copies to:
  • The person;
  • Any adult member of the person’s family at the person’s abode;
  • The person’s secretary or manager at work.


C.R.J.P. 2.2
C.R.C.P. 4(g)
Missing persons may be served by publication. Service by publication may be used for a person:
  • Outside of Colorado whose residence is unknown;
  • Within Colorado who cannot be found after due diligence.
C.R.J.P. 6.1
C.R.J.P. 6.3(3)
C.R.C.P. 4(h)
In all cases, the motion for publication must detail efforts to locate an absent parent. Attempts to locate the missing person may be by contacting the:
  • Last known address;
  • Relatives;
  • Local telephone book;
  • Inmate locator;
  • DHS (public assistance and Medicaid);
  • Child support enforcement;
  • Federal Parent Locator Service;
  • Public Housing Authority;
  • Department of Motor Vehicles;
  • Post Office;
  • Board of Elections;
  • Local law enforcement.
C.R.J.P. 2.2
The court may ex parte grant the motion for service by publication. The court must be satisfied that due diligence has been used to obtain personal service or that such efforts would have been to no avail.

C.R.S. § 19-3-504(2)
In D&N cases, the court may issue a bench warrant for the respondent, if all reasonable efforts at personal service have failed or if the welfare of the child requires that he or she be brought immediately into the custody of the court. The court may also issue a bench warrant for the child, if necessary.

C.R.S. § 19-3-504(1)
In D&N cases, anyone who is served and fails to appear may be held in contempt. The person must acknowledge service and lack reasonable cause for failing to appear.