C.R.S. Section 19-5-217
Enforcement or termination of post-adoption contact agreement


(1)

If the decree of adoption contains a post-adoption contact agreement pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5), the court retains jurisdiction after the decree of adoption is entered to hear motions to enforce or terminate the contact agreement, or to enter stipulated agreements of the parties to modify the contact agreement.

(2)

The court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the adopted child, or a counsel for youth for an adopted child twelve years of age or older, at the time of any action for the enforcement or termination of the post-adoption contact agreement if the court determines that consideration of the factors set forth in section 19-5-103 (9)(a) require the appointment of a guardian ad litem or a counsel for youth. In all adoptions other than those in which the child is placed by the county department, a party or parties shall pay reasonable fees for the services of the guardian ad litem or counsel for youth unless a party is indigent, in which case the office of the child’s representative shall pay the fees.

(3)

If there is a post-adoption agreement for contact established pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5), only a party to the contact agreement, even if he or she is not a party to the adoption, may file a motion to enforce or terminate the contact agreement as set forth in this section.

(4)

Prior to filing a motion seeking the enforcement or termination of a post-adoption contact agreement established pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5), the party seeking enforcement or termination shall show that the party attempted in good faith to resolve the disputed matters through mediation or other method of dispute resolution. This requirement is waived if the party’s whereabouts are unknown and the party cannot be located despite diligent efforts to do so.

(5)

The court shall not terminate a post-adoption contact agreement established pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5) unless the moving party establishes that there has been a change in circumstances and that the contact agreement is no longer in the adopted child’s best interests. Following the adoption, the court shall presume that the adoptive parent’s judgement is in the best interests of the child in any action seeking to enforce or terminate the contact agreement, and such presumption may only be overcome by clear and convincing evidence. A post-adoption contact agreement may not limit the adoptive parent’s ability to move out of state.

(6)

At any time after the entry of a post-adoption contact agreement pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5), the parties to the agreement may file with the court a signed, modified post-adoption contact agreement. The court shall not modify the terms of the initial post-adoption contact agreement absent the consent of all parties to the agreement, but the court may enforce or terminate the agreement over the objection of a party to the agreement. An adopted child twelve years of age or older at the time of the adoption must consent to any modification or termination of the contact agreement.

(7)

The court may consider documentary evidence and offers of proof in determining motions to enforce or terminate a post-adoption contact agreement established pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5), or may, in its discretion, hold a hearing on the motion.

(8)

The court shall not order further investigation or evaluation by any public or private agency or individual relating to a post-adoption contact agreement established pursuant to section 19-5-208 (4.5).

Source: Section 19-5-217 — Enforcement or termination of post-adoption contact agreement, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-19.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

19‑5‑100.2
Legislative declaration
19‑5‑100.5
Applicability of article
19‑5‑101
Termination of the parent-child legal relationship
19‑5‑102
Venue
19‑5‑102.5
Relinquishment hearings - court docket priority
19‑5‑103
Relinquishment procedure - petition - hearings
19‑5‑103.5
Expedited relinquishment procedure - children under one year of age - other birth parents - notice - termination
19‑5‑103.7
Anticipated expedited relinquishment - children under one year of age - notice to other or possible parent - administrative procedures
19‑5‑104
Final order of relinquishment
19‑5‑105
Proceeding to terminate parent-child legal relationship
19‑5‑105.5
Termination of parent-child legal relationship upon a finding that the child was conceived as a result of sexual assault - legislative declaration - definitions
19‑5‑105.7
Termination of parent-child legal relationship in a case of an allegation that a child was conceived as a result of sexual assault but in which no conviction occurred - legislative declaration - definitions
19‑5‑108
When notice of relinquishment proceedings required
19‑5‑109
Birth parent access to records related to relinquishment of parental rights
19‑5‑200.2
Legislative declaration
19‑5‑201
Who may be adopted
19‑5‑202
Who may adopt
19‑5‑202.5
Adoption hearings - termination appeals - court docket priority - exceptions
19‑5‑203
Availability for adoption
19‑5‑203.5
Confirmatory adoption - short title - definitions
19‑5‑204
Venue
19‑5‑205
Adoption decree of foreign country approved
19‑5‑205.5
Nonpublic agency interstate and foreign adoptions - authority for state department to select agencies - legislative declaration
19‑5‑206
Placement for purposes of adoption
19‑5‑207
Written consent and home study report for public adoptions - fingerprint-based criminal history record checks - investigation - rules
19‑5‑207.3
Placement of sibling groups
19‑5‑207.5
Legislative declaration - standardized home studies - adoptive family resource registry - rules
19‑5‑208
Petition for adoption - open adoption - post-adoption contact agreement
19‑5‑209
Petition - written home study reports
19‑5‑210
Hearing on petition
19‑5‑211
Legal effects of final decree
19‑5‑212
Copies of order of adoption - to whom given
19‑5‑213
Compensation for placing child prohibited
19‑5‑213.5
Unauthorized advertising for adoption purposes - exceptions - penalty - definitions
19‑5‑214
Limitation on annulment of adoption - best interests standard
19‑5‑216
Increased access for adoption - study
19‑5‑217
Enforcement or termination of post-adoption contact agreement
19‑5‑301
Legislative declaration
19‑5‑303
Commission created - duties
19‑5‑304
Confidential intermediaries - confidential intermediary services
19‑5‑305
Access to adoption records - contact with parties to adoption - contact preference form and updated medical history statement - definitions
19‑5‑305.5
Access to personal records relating to a former ward of the state home for dependent and neglected children - other eligible parties - definitions
19‑5‑306
Public information campaign
19‑5‑307
Child placement agency - transfer of records
19‑5‑402
Access to nonidentifying information
19‑5‑403
Authority for department to select agencies
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 19-5-217’s source at colorado​.gov