Adult Adoption in Colorado: Process, Forms, and Requirements

Adult adoption often surprises people. Most assume adoption only applies to children. But Colorado law allows adults to be legally adopted by another adult, and the reasons families pursue it range from formalizing a step-parent relationship that was never legally established, to creating inheritance rights for someone raised informally by a family member, to recognizing a meaningful relationship that simply never had a legal name.

Here's how it works in Colorado and what to expect.

Who Can Be Adopted as an Adult in Colorado

Under Colorado law, any adult — meaning anyone 18 or older — can be adopted, provided both the adoptee and the adopting adult consent to the arrangement. There is no upper age limit. A 60-year-old can adopt a 40-year-old. A 35-year-old can adopt a 28-year-old.

Unlike minor child adoption, adult adoption in Colorado does not require a home study, background checks, or agency involvement. The procedural requirements are significantly simplified because there's no child welfare concern at the core of the case — both parties are adults giving informed consent.

Common Reasons Families Pursue Adult Adoption in Colorado

Formalizing step-parent relationships. The most common scenario: a step-parent raised a child from a young age, but the adoption was never formally completed — perhaps because the non-custodial biological parent wouldn't consent, or because it simply wasn't pursued at the time. Once the child turns 18, that barrier disappears. The adult child and step-parent can now choose to formalize the relationship legally.

Inheritance and estate planning. Colorado inheritance law treats legally adopted children the same as biological children. Adult adoption can ensure that a person raised informally by a family member — a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or close family friend — has inheritance rights that cannot be challenged. This is particularly relevant when biological relatives of the adopting adult might contest an estate.

Recognizing long-term guardian relationships. Individuals who were raised by foster parents, kinship caregivers, or informal guardians sometimes pursue adult adoption once they're old enough to consent, to create a permanent legal bond with the people who raised them.

LGBTQ+ family recognition. In some situations, adult adoption has been used by same-sex couples to create legally recognized family relationships in earlier years when other options weren't available. While marriage equality has addressed most of these situations, legacy cases still exist.

The Adult Adoption Process in Colorado

Step 1: Confirm consent.

Both parties must consent to the adoption in writing. Unlike minor adoption, there are no biological parent rights to terminate — the adoptee is an adult making their own legal decision. If the adoptee is married, their spouse's consent may also be required under Colorado law, because adoption changes the family relationship in ways that affect the spouse's legal position (including inheritance rights and potential support obligations).

Step 2: File the petition.

The petition is filed in the District Court in the county where either the petitioner (adopting adult) or the adoptee resides. The same general petition forms used for minor adoptions apply, adapted for the adult adoption context. Court filing fees in Colorado run approximately $167 for the adoption petition.

Step 3: Attend the hearing.

Adult adoption cases generally require a brief court hearing at which the judge confirms that both parties are adults who understand the legal effects of the adoption and are consenting voluntarily. These hearings are typically short and uncontested, often completed in under an hour.

Step 4: Final Decree of Adoption.

If the court is satisfied, it issues a Final Decree of Adoption (JDF 522). This decree has the same legal effect as a birth to the adopting parent — the adoptee becomes a legal child of the adoptor, with all attendant inheritance rights, name change options, and family relationship changes.

Step 5: Post-adoption documentation.

Following finalization, the adoptee can apply for a new birth certificate reflecting the adoption. Colorado, since 2016, operates as an "unrestricted" state for original birth certificate access — adult adoptees can also access their original birth certificate through CDPHE Vital Records. They can have both the original and the amended certificate.

Legal Effects of Adult Adoption

Once finalized, adult adoption in Colorado creates the same legal relationship as any other adoption:

• The adoptee becomes a legal heir of the adopting parent, with intestate succession rights
• The adopting parent's relatives (siblings, parents) become the adoptee's legal relatives for inheritance purposes
• The adoptee can take the adopting parent's surname if desired
• The legal relationship with the biological parent is not necessarily severed — unlike minor adoption, adult adoption in Colorado does not automatically terminate the relationship with the biological family, though the legal details can vary by circumstance

The legal relationship changes should be reflected in estate planning documents — wills, trusts, beneficiary designations on financial accounts and life insurance policies should all be updated after finalization.

Do You Need an Attorney for Adult Adoption in Colorado

Adult adoption is one of the more accessible legal procedures for self-represented parties in Colorado, precisely because there are no contested parties (no biological parent to notify, no agency to coordinate, no home study to complete). Many families handle adult adoption without an attorney.

That said, if there are any complications — spousal consent complications, estate planning implications, family disputes about the adoption, or questions about how it affects existing legal documents — consulting with a family law attorney is worthwhile. The hourly rates in Colorado ($225–$500 depending on experience level) make it worth doing the administrative groundwork yourself and using attorney time for the genuinely complex questions.

The Colorado Adoption Process Guide covers both the minor and adult adoption pathways under Colorado law, including the specific forms, court procedures, and post-finalization steps that apply to each situation.

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