C.R.S. Section 14-10-124.4
Family time for grandparents or great-grandparents

  • legislative declaration
  • definitions

(1)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The general assembly finds and declares that:

(I)

A close relationship between grandparents or great-grandparents and grandchildren or great-grandchildren can be beneficial for the health and well-being of grandchildren or great-grandchildren; and

(II)

Grandparents or great-grandparents may provide acceptance, patience, love, stability, wisdom, and support to grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

(b)

The general assembly further finds that it may be in the best interests of grandchildren or great-grandchildren for grandparents or great-grandparents to be granted grandparent or great-grandparent family time because of the positive effects the relationship may have on a grandchild’s or great-grandchild’s health and well-being.

(2)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“Grandparent” means a person who is the parent of a child’s father or mother, who is related to the child by blood, in whole or by half, adoption, or marriage; except that “grandparent” does not include the parent of a child’s legal father or mother whose parental rights have been terminated in accordance with sections 19-5-101 and 19-1-104 (1)(d).

(b)

“Great-grandparent” means a person who is the grandparent of a child’s father or mother, who is related to the child by blood, in whole or by half, adoption, or marriage; except that “great-grandparent” does not include the grandparent of a child’s legal father or mother whose parental rights have been terminated in accordance with sections 19-5-101 and 19-1-104 (1)(d).

(c)

“Grandparent or great-grandparent family time” or “grandparent family time” means any form of contact or engagement between grandparents or great-grandparents and their grandchildren or great-grandchildren for the purposes of preserving and strengthening family ties.

(3)

Any grandparent or great-grandparent of a child may, in the manner set forth in this section, seek a court order granting reasonable grandparent family time with a grandchild or great-grandchild when there is or has been a child custody case or a case concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities with respect to that child. Because cases arise that do not directly deal with child custody or the allocation of parental responsibilities but nonetheless have an impact on the custody of, or parental responsibilities with respect to a child, for the purposes of this section, a “case concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities with respect to a child” includes any of the following, whether or not child custody was or parental responsibilities were specifically an issue:

(a)

The marriage of the child’s parents has been declared invalid or has been dissolved by a court or a court has entered a decree of legal separation with regard to such marriage;

(b)

Legal custody of or parental responsibilities with respect to the child have been given or allocated to a party other than the child’s parent or the child has been placed outside of and does not reside in the home of the child’s parent, excluding any child who has been placed for adoption or whose adoption has been legally finalized; or

(c)

The child’s parent, who is the child of the grandparent or grandchild of the great-grandparent, has died.

(4)

A party seeking a grandparent family time order shall submit, together with the party’s petition for grandparent family time, to the district court for the district in which the child resides, an affidavit setting forth facts supporting the requested order and shall give notice, together with a copy of the party’s affidavit, to each party involved in the allocation of parental responsibilities proceedings as determined by a court pursuant to this article 10. The party with legal custody or parental responsibilities as determined by a court pursuant to this article 10, may file opposing affidavits. If neither party requests a hearing, the court shall enter an order granting grandparent family time to the petitioning grandparent or great-grandparent only upon a finding that the grandparent family time is in the best interests of the child. A hearing must be held if either party so requests or if it appears to the court that it is in the best interests of the child that a hearing be held. At the hearing, parties submitting affidavits are allowed an opportunity to be heard. If, at the conclusion of the hearing, the court finds it is in the best interests of the child to grant grandparent family time to the petitioning grandparent or great-grandparent, the court shall enter an order granting grandparent family time. In determining the best interests of the child for the purpose of grandparent or great-grandparent family time, the court shall presume the parental determination regarding grandparent time is in the best interests of the child. A grandparent or great-grandparent may overcome the presumption upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the grandparent family time is in the child’s best interests. In making this determination, the court shall consider the factors described in section 14-10-124 (1.5)(a).

(5)

The court may appoint a legal representative of a child pursuant to section 14-10-116 to represent the best interests of the child in a proceeding pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

(6)

A grandparent or great-grandparent shall not file a petition seeking an order granting grandparent family time more than once every two years absent a showing of good cause. If the court finds there is good cause to file more than one such petition, it shall allow such additional petition to be filed and shall consider it. The court may order reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party. The court may not make any order restricting the movement of the child if such restriction is solely for the purpose of allowing the grandparent or great-grandparent the opportunity to exercise the grandparent’s or great-grandparent’s family time with the grandchild or great-grandchild.

(7)

The court may establish, modify, or terminate grandparent family time if the order would serve the best interests of the child.

(8)

An order establishing, granting, or denying parenting time rights to the parent of a child does not affect grandparent family time granted to a grandparent or great-grandparent as long as the grandparent family time is in the best interests of the child pursuant to this section.

Source: Section 14-10-124.4 — Family time for grandparents or great-grandparents - legislative declaration - definitions, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-14.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

14‑10‑101
Short title 14‑10‑102
Purposes - rules of construction 14‑10‑103
Definitions and interpretation of terms 14‑10‑104
Uniformity of application and construction 14‑10‑104.5
Legislative declaration 14‑10‑105
Application of Colorado rules of civil procedure 14‑10‑106
Dissolution of marriage - legal separation 14‑10‑106.5
Dissolution of civil unions - legal separation - jurisdiction - applicability of article and case law 14‑10‑107
Commencement - pleadings - abolition of existing defenses - automatic, temporary injunction - enforcement 14‑10‑107.5
Entry of appearance and notice of withdrawal by delegate child support enforcement unit 14‑10‑107.7
Required notice of involvement with state department of human services 14‑10‑107.8
Required notice of prior restraining, civil protection, or emergency protection orders to prevent domestic abuse - petitions for dissolution of marriage or legal separation 14‑10‑108
Temporary orders in a dissolution case 14‑10‑109
Enforcement of protection orders 14‑10‑110
Irretrievable breakdown 14‑10‑111
Declaration of invalidity 14‑10‑112
Separation agreement 14‑10‑113
Disposition of property - definitions 14‑10‑114
Spousal maintenance - advisory guidelines - legislative declaration - definitions 14‑10‑115
Child support guidelines - purpose - determination of income - schedule of basic child support obligations - adjustments to basic child support - additional guidelines - child support commission - definitions 14‑10‑116
Appointment in domestic relations cases - representation of the best interests of the child - legal representative of the child - disclosure - short title 14‑10‑116.5
Appointment in domestic relations cases - child and family investigator - disclosure - background check 14‑10‑117
Payment of maintenance or child support 14‑10‑118
Enforcement of orders 14‑10‑119
Attorney’s fees 14‑10‑120
Decree 14‑10‑120.2
Ex-parte request for restoration of prior name of party 14‑10‑120.3
Dissolution of marriage or legal separation upon affidavit - requirements 14‑10‑120.5
Petition - fee - assessment - displaced homemakers fund 14‑10‑121
Independence of provisions of decree or temporary order 14‑10‑122
Modification and termination of provisions for maintenance, support, and property disposition - automatic lien - definitions 14‑10‑123
Commencement of proceedings concerning allocation of parental responsibilities - jurisdiction - automatic temporary injunction - enforcement - definitions 14‑10‑123.3
Requests for parental responsibility for a child by grandparents 14‑10‑123.4
Rights of children in matters relating to parental responsibilities 14‑10‑123.6
Required notice of prior restraining orders to prevent domestic abuse - proceedings concerning parental responsibilities relating to a child - resources for family services 14‑10‑123.7
Parental education - legislative declaration 14‑10‑123.8
Access to records 14‑10‑124
Best interests of the child 14‑10‑124.4
Family time for grandparents or great-grandparents - legislative declaration - definitions 14‑10‑124.5
Disputes concerning grandparent or great-grandparent family time 14‑10‑125
Temporary orders 14‑10‑126
Interviews 14‑10‑127
Evaluation and reports - training and qualifications of evaluators - disclosure 14‑10‑127.5
Domestic violence training for court personnel - expert testimony - child placement decisions - legislative declaration - definitions 14‑10‑128
Hearings 14‑10‑128.1
Appointment of parenting coordinator - disclosure 14‑10‑128.3
Appointment of decision-maker - disclosure 14‑10‑128.5
Appointment of arbitrator - de novo hearing of award 14‑10‑129
Modification of parenting time 14‑10‑129.5
Disputes concerning parenting time 14‑10‑130
Judicial supervision 14‑10‑131
Modification of custody or decision-making responsibility 14‑10‑131.7
Designation of custody for the purpose of other state and federal statutes 14‑10‑131.8
Construction of 1999 revisions 14‑10‑132
Affidavit practice 14‑10‑133
Effective date - applicability
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 14-10-124.4’s source at colorado​.gov