N.  Records

C.R.S. § 19-1-309
All adoption and relinquishment records are confidential. The court may allow inspection for good cause shown. The court must act to protect the birth parents’, adoptive parents’ and child’s anonymity (except in designated adoptions).

C.R.S. § 19-5-304(2)
Certain persons have a qualified right to access these records. They may file a motion to find out about adult relatives. The motion must be filed in the court where the adoption took place. 

C.R.S. § 19-5-304(1) and (2)
Persons with qualified rights to access are:  adult adoptees, adoptive parents, biological parents or siblings, and certain other relatives.

C.R.S. § 19-1-103(26)
C.R.S. § 19-5-305(2)
For adoptions finalized before September 1, 1999, you may appoint a confidential intermediary for an adult adoptee, an adoptive parent, custodial grandparent, legal guardian of minor adoptee, biological parent, or the adult biological sibling or half-sibling of an adult adoptee. 

C.R.S. § 19-5-304(4)
The confidential intermediary locates the sought-after relative to get his or her consent to communicate with the person who filed the motion. If both parties consent, the contact may be made and records made accessible. If they do not both consent, the records must remain confidential. The consent must be received by the court.

In the Matter of the Petition of J.N.H., ___ P.3d ___ (Colo. App., April 16, 2009)
An adoptee whose adoption was finalized before July 1, 1967, does not have to seal adoption records through a confidential intermediary. 

C.R.S. § 19-5-305
For adoptions finalized after September 1, 1999, records shall be open for inspection and available for copying by adult adoptees, adoptive parents, adoptive grandparents or a legal representative.  

Records include:

  • Original and amended birth certificate;
  • Final decree of adoption;
  • Final order of relinquishment;
  • Final order terminating parental rights.
C.R.S. § 19-1-103(6.5)
These records do not include pre-relinquishment counseling records.

C.R.S. § 19-5-402











C.R.S. § 19-1-103(80)
Non-identifying information may be released to certain persons. Adoptive parents or adult adoptees may request non-identifying information about the adoptee or birth parents. DHS must provide this information on request.

Non-identifying information includes:

  • Birth parent’s physical description;
  • Birth parent’s educational background;
  • Birth parent’s occupation;
  • Birth parent’s genetic information on family;
  • Birth parent’s social information;
  • Adoptee’s information on birth; and
  • Adoptee’s placement history.
C.R.S. § 25-2-113.5
Colorado also has an adoption registry. Adoptees and  birth parents may register to exchange information.