Certificates and Vital Records
Frequently Asked Questions
About Adoption in Colorado
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I
have met my birth parents and want to know how I can get a
copy of my original birth certificate.
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How
can I obtain my original birth certificate?
-
I
just want to know who my birth parents are. Can you give me
their names?
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I
am Native American and I want to go to school but the Tribe
requires a copy of my original birth certificate that shows
my birth parents’ bloodlines. How do I get that information?
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If
the court grants my petition, what does your department require?
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How
can I find out where I was adopted?
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How
can I obtain non-identifying information on my birth parents?
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How
can I obtain medical information regarding my birth parents?
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What
programs are in place to facilitate contact between adult
adoptees and their birth parents?
-
I
was born in Colorado and want to register with the Colorado
Voluntary Adoption Registry. How old do I have to
be to register?
-
I
was born in another state but adopted in Colorado. Can I get
my original birth certificate from your office?
-
How do I report an adoption?
1.
I have met my birth parents and want to know how I can get a copy
of my original birth certificate.
Adult
adoptees and birth parents who have been previously matched may obtain
the adoptees’ original birth certificate due to a new law, Colorado
Revised Statute §19-5-305. Procedures
for implementing this new statute have been developed. Complete
the consent form to release
an original birth certificate from a sealed file.
2.
How can I obtain my original birth certificate?
To
have your original birth certificate issued, you will need to contact
the district or juvenile court that decreed your adoption or a court
of competent jurisdiction. You will need to request a good cause hearing
from the court and ask that court to order the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment, Vital Records, to open your sealed
adoption file and issue a certified copy of your original birth certificate.
Persons who have been previously matched may be able to obtain an
original birth certificate for their personal records.
If you were adopted July 1, 1951 through June 30, 1967, the
Colorado Court of Appeals ruled adoptees can access their
adoption
records.
If you were adopted September 1, 1999 to present, records are
open to adult adoptees 18 years of age and older.
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3.
I just want to know who my birth parents are. Can you give me their
names?
You
will need to obtain a court order for Vital Records to release this
information. Other options include the Colorado
Voluntary Adoption Registry and the Colorado
Confidential Intermediary Service.
4.
I am Native American and I want to go to school but the Tribe requires
a copy of my original birth certificate that shows my birth parents’ bloodlines. How do I get that information?
You
will need to contact the court where your adoption was decreed for
a good cause hearing (or a court of competent jurisdiction). We have
found that the courts usually act favorably on these petitions.
5.
If the court grants my petition, what does your department require?
We
will require a certified copy of the Order, a $20.00 processing fee
and a photocopy of your driver's license, state ID or passport. The fee to issue a certified copy of the original birth certificate
is $17.75 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy if
ordered at the same time.
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6.
How can I find out where I was adopted?
Typically,
the District or Juvenile court should have decreed the adoption in
the county where your adopted parents were residing at the time of
your adoption.
7.
How can I obtain non-identifying information on my birth parents?
If
you were a ward of the Colorado State Home for Dependent and Neglected
Children prior to being adopted, you can contact Division of Youth Corrections, Closed Records, 4143 South Julian Way, Bldg 23, Denver CO 80236; phone (303) 866-7346;
The
adoptee must write a letter asking for non-identifying information.
Include your birth name (if known), date of birth, adopted parents’
names, your current name, address, city, state, zip code and phone
number. Include all information that you know regarding your birth
parents. If the information is correct, the agency will not eliminate
that information from the documents they will mail to you. Any identifying
information that you do not provide will be eliminated. They have
records for the years 1895-1960. The letter must be notarized and
mailed with a copy of your driver’s license. There is a charge
of $.50 per page. Do not mail any money, as you will be billed for
the copy charge plus postage. If you are not sure that you were a
ward of the State Home, call prior to writing the letter.
A birth parent or sibling can be given only the county and the year
the adoption was final.
If
you were in the custody of a county human services agency prior to
your adoption, contact Colorado Department of Human
Services, 1575 Sherman St., 2nd Fl., Adoption Unit, Denver
CO 80203-1714; phone (303) 866-3228. This agency has records on file
for birth years 1950 to present. Few records available prior to 1950.
If
you were in the custody of Catholic Community Services, contact Catholic Charities, 2525 West Alameda Avenue, Denver CO
80219; phone (303) 742-0828; www.catholiccharitiesdenver.org;
e-mail (for birth years 1949 to present)
If
you were in the custody of Lutheran Family Services contact Lutheran Family Services of Colorado:
3800 Automation Way, Suite 200
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-266-1788 ext. 159
fax 970.266.1799
1-866-361-6758 ext. 159 (toll free)
If
a private attorney handled the adoption, the above agencies would
not have non-identifying information.
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8.
How can I obtain medical information regarding my birth parents?
Contact
the court that decreed your adoption, or the Colorado Department of
Human Services, Adoption Unit at (303) 866-3228, or the adoption agency
that handled your adoption.
9.
What programs are in place to facilitate contact between adult adoptees
and their birth parents?
The
Colorado Voluntary Adoption Registry
(303) 692-2227 and the Colorado Confidential
Intermediary Service (303) 237-6919.
10.
I was born in Colorado and want to register with the Colorado
Voluntary Adoption Registry. How old do I have to be
to register?
You
must be at least 18 years of age.
11.
I was born in another state but adopted in Colorado. Can I get my
original birth certificate from your office?
In
this situation Colorado Vital Records would not have your original
birth certificate. You will need to contact the state
vital records office where you were born to find out the procedure
for obtaining your original birth certificate. Each state has different
laws and regulations.
12. How do I report an adoption?
Report
of Adoption form 
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ADOPTIONS FINALIZED: