Title 19, Children's Code
0 chapters · 277 sections in this title.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-101 Short title
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This title shall be known and may be cited as the Colorado Children's Code. Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 695, � 1, effective October 1. Editor's note: This section was contained in a title that was repealed and reenacted in 1987. This section, as it existed in 1987, is th…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-102 Legislative declaration
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(1) The general assembly declares that the purposes of this title are: (a) To secure for each child subject to these provisions such care and guidance, preferably in his own home, as will best serve his welfare and the interests of society; (b) To preserve and strengthen family t…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-103 Definitions
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As used in this title 19 or in the specified portion of this title 19, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) (a) Abuse or child abuse or neglect, as used in part 3 of article 3 of this title 19, means an act or omission in one of the following categories that threatens the h…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-103.5 Other definitions. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 96: Entire section added, p. 82, � 2, effective July 1. L. 97: Entire section repealed, p. 1031, � 67, effective August 6.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-104 Jurisdiction
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(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, the juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings: (a) Concerning any child committing a delinquent act, as defined in section 19-2.5-102; (b) Concerning any child who is neglected or dependent, as set forth in section …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-105 Right to counsel and jury trial
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(1) All hearings, including adjudicatory hearings, shall be heard by a judge or magistrate without a jury, except as otherwise provided by this title. (2) The right to counsel is provided in this title 19. Nothing in this title 19 prevents the court from appointing counsel in add…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-106 Hearings - procedure - record
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(1) The Colorado rules of juvenile procedure shall apply in all proceedings under this title. (2) Hearings may be conducted in an informal manner. The general public shall not be excluded unless the court determines that it is in the best interest of the child or of the community…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-107 Social study and other reports
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(1) Unless waived by the court, an agency designated by the court shall make a social study and report in writing in all children's cases; except that: (a) Repealed. (b) Adoption reports shall be as provided in article 5 of this title. (2) For the purpose of determining proper di…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-108 Magistrates - qualifications - duties
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(1) The juvenile court may appoint one or more magistrates to hear any case or matter under the court's jurisdiction, except where a jury trial has been requested pursuant to section 19-2.5-610 and in transfer hearings held pursuant to section 19-2.5-802. Magistrates shall serve …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-109 Appeals - child welfare appeals workgroup - created - reports
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(1) An appeal as provided in the introductory portion to section 13-4-102 (1), C.R.S., may be taken from any order, decree, or judgment. Appellate procedure shall be as provided by the Colorado appellate rules. Initials shall appear on the record on appeal in place of the name of…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-110 Previous orders and decrees - force and effect
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All orders and decrees in proceedings concerning dependency and neglect, delinquency, relinquishment, adoption, paternity, or contributing to dependency or delinquency entered by the court prior to October 1, 1987, shall remain in full force and effect until modified or terminate…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-111 Appointment of guardian ad litem
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(1) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for every child under twelve years of age in all dependency and neglect cases pursuant to this title 19. (2) The court may appoint a guardian ad litem in the following cases: (a) For a child in a delinquency proceeding where: (I) No…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-111.5 Court-appointed special advocate
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The court may appoint a CASA volunteer pursuant to the provisions of part 2 of this article if the court finds that the appointment would be in the best interests of the child. The court may direct the manner in which a CASA volunteer and any guardian ad litem appointed in a case…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-112 Search warrants for the protection of children
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(1) A search warrant may be issued by the juvenile court to search any place for the recovery of any child within the jurisdiction of the court believed to be a delinquent child or a neglected or dependent child. (2) Such warrant shall be issued only on the conditions that the ap…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-113 Emergency protection orders
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(1) The juvenile court is authorized to issue an ex parte written or verbal emergency protection order for the protection of a child pursuant to this section. A judge or magistrate shall be available in the juvenile court in each judicial district to issue by telephone emergency …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-114 Order of protection
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(1) The court may make an order of protection in assistance of, or as a condition of, any decree authorized by this title. The order of protection may set forth reasonable conditions of behavior to be observed for a specified period by the parent, guardian, legal custodian, custo…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-115 Legal custody - guardianship - placement out of the home - petition for review for need of placement - rules
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(1) (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, in awarding legal custody of a child pursuant to this title 19, the court may, if in the best interests of the child, give preference to the child’s grandparent who is appropriate, capable, willing, and available to care for the child,…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-115.3 Missing children and youth from out-of-home placement - required reporting to law enforcement
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If a child or youth for whom the department of human services or a county department of human or social services has legal custody pursuant to the provisions of this title 19 is determined by the agency to be missing, the agency having legal custody of the child or youth shall re…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-115.5 Placement of children out of home - legislative declaration
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(1) (a) (I) The general assembly hereby finds that the number of children in out-of-home placement has increased significantly. The general assembly further finds that the facility in which a child is placed out of home is often not located in the same school district as the chil…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-115.7 Foster care prevention services - provision of services - rights and remedies - exchange of information
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(1) A county department of human or social services may provide both child welfare and prevention services, including but not limited to foster care prevention services, as defined in section 19-1-103, to families, kin caregivers, children, juveniles, and youth. (2) Nothing in th…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-116 Funding - alternatives to placement out of the home - services to prevent continued involvement in child welfare system
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(1) The state department of human services shall reimburse allowable expenses to county departments of human or social services for foster care. The state department’s budget request for foster care must be based upon the actual aggregate expenditure of federal, state, and local …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-117 Visitation rights of grandparents or great-grandparents. (Repealed)
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C.R.S. 19-1-117Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-117.5 Disputes concerning grandparent or great-grandparent visitation. (Repealed)
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C.R.S. 19-1-117.5Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Service…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-117.6 Definitions. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 91: Entire section added, p. 262, � 4, effective May 31. L. 96: Entire section repealed, p. 85, � 11, effective March 20.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-117.7 Requests for placement - legal custody by grandparents
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Whenever a grandparent seeks the placement of his or her grandchild in the grandparent's home or seeks the legal custody of his or her grandchild pursuant to the provisions of this title, the court entering such order shall consider any credible evidence of the grandparent's past…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-118 Court records - inspection. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 710, � 1, effective October 1. L. 89: (4) and (5) added, p. 914, � 1, effective July 1. L. 90: Entire section repealed, p. 1012, � 8, effective July 1.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-119 Confidentiality of juvenile records - delinquency. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 90: Entire section added, p. 1007, � 2, effective July 1. L. 91: IP(1)(a) amended and (1)(b.5) added, p. 205, � 1, effective July 1. L. 93: Entire section amended, p. 932, � 2, effective May 28; (1)(a), (1)(b), and (2)(a) amended, p. 1547, � 3, effective July 1; (1)(a)…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-120 Confidentiality of records - dependency and neglect. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 90: Entire section added, (2)(k) and (2)(k)(I) amended, and (2)(l) added, pp. 1009, 1031, 1845, �� 2, 21, 27, effective July 1; (2)(j) amended, p. 1845, � 37, effective October 1. L. 91: (2)(k) amended and (2)(m) to (2)(o) and (2.5) added, pp. 221, 222, �� 1, 2, effect…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-121 Confidentiality of records - Uniform Parentage Act. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 90: Entire section added, p. 1011, � 2, effective July 1. L. 94: Entire section amended, p. 1540, � 12, effective May 31. L. 96: Entire section repealed, p. 1173, � 7, effective January 1, 1997. Editor's note: This section was relocated to � 19-1-308 in 1997. 19-1-122.…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-122 Confidentiality of records - relinquishments and adoptions. (Repealed)
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C.R.S. 19-1-122Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-123 Expedited procedures for permanent placement - children under the age of six years - designated counties
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(1) (a) The expedited procedures for the permanent placement of children under the age of six years required by article 3 of this title 19 must be implemented on a county-by-county basis beginning July 1, 1994. The state department of human services, in consultation with the judi…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-124 Providers of children’s services using federal or state moneys - use of state accounting standards
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In order to ensure financial accountability, on and after July 1, 1997, all service providers receiving federal or state moneys through the state for the provision of services to children, youth, and families pursuant to this title shall use the accounting standards of the govern…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-125 Family stabilization services
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(1) It is the intent of the general assembly to assist in the provision of appropriate and necessary short-term services to help stabilize families that are at risk of having their children placed in out-of-home placement when those families voluntarily request such services. It …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-126 Compliance with the federal “Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978”. (Repealed)
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C.R.S. 19-1-126Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-127 Responsibility for placement and care
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(1) Responsibility for placement and care, for purposes of compliance with federal requirements pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. sec. 672 (a)(2), means the specified entity is considered to have the responsibility for placement and care of a child if: (a) A …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-128 Foster care sibling visits - rules. (Repealed)
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Source: L. 2008: Entire section added, p. 1, � 1, effective August 5. L. 2019: Entire section repealed, (HB 19-1288), ch. 216, p. 2238, � 3, effective August 2. Editor's note: This section was relocated to � 19-7-204 in 2019. 19-1-129. Department - research authorized - prenatal …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-129 Department - research authorized - prenatal substance exposure - newborn and family outcomes - report
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(1) The state department of human services may conduct research as related to the definition of “abuse” in section 19-1-103 concerning the incidence of prenatal substance exposure and related newborn and family health and human services outcomes as the result of a mother’s lawful…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-130 Access to services related to out-of-home placement - definitions
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(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “Gender expression” means a person’s way of reflecting and expressing their gender to the outside world, typically demonstrated through appearance, dress, and behavior. (b) “Gender identity” means a person’s …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-131 Children of parents who are incarcerated - rules
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The department shall promulgate rules that facilitate communication and family time between children and their parents who are incarcerated in a department of corrections facility, a private correctional facility under contract with the department of corrections, or a jail. The p…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-201 Legislative intent
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(1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that quality representation for children requires legal expertise and thorough case monitoring. (b) The work of community volunteers has been proven to be effective in addressing the needs of children. Partnerships between gu…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-202 Creation of CASA programs
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(1) CASA programs may be established in each judicial district or any two or more judicial districts and shall operate pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the chief judge of the judicial district and the CASA program. The memorandum of understanding must identify th…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-203 Program director
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(1) The program director shall be responsible for the administration of the CASA program, including recruitment, selection, training, and supervision and evaluation of staff and CASA volunteers. (2) The program director shall serve as a professional liaison between the court and …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-204 Training requirements
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(1) All CASA volunteers shall participate fully in preservice training, including instruction on recognizing child abuse and neglect, cultural awareness, child development, education standards, the juvenile court process, permanency planning, volunteer roles and responsibilities,…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-205 Selection of CASA volunteers
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(1) Each CASA program shall adopt regulations consistent with subsection (2) of this section and with the Colorado CASA association and national CASA association guidelines governing qualifications and selection of CASA volunteers. Each CASA program's regulations shall include pr…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-206 Appointment of CASA volunteers
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(1) (a) A judge or magistrate may appoint a CASA volunteer in any action brought pursuant to this title and titles 14 and 15, C.R.S., when, in the opinion of the judge or magistrate, a child who may be affected by such action requires services that a CASA volunteer can provide. A…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-207 Restrictions
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(1) A CASA volunteer shall not: (a) Accept any compensation for the duties and responsibilities of his or her appointment; (b) Have any association that creates a conflict of interest with his or her duties; (c) Be related to any party or attorney involved in a case; (d) Be emplo…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-208 Duties of CASA volunteer
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(1) Independent case investigation. Upon appointment in an action, a CASA volunteer may: (a) Conduct an independent investigation regarding the best interests of the child that will provide factual information to the court regarding the child and the child's family. The investiga…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-209 Role and responsibilities of guardians ad litem - other parties
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(1) (a) Any guardian ad litem, and all state and local agencies, departments, authorities, and institutions shall cooperate and share information with any CASA volunteer appointed to serve on a case and with each local CASA program to facilitate the implementation of its program.…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-210 Access to information
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Upon appointment of a CASA volunteer, the court shall issue an order authorizing access to such records and other information relating to the child, parent, legal guardian, or other parties in interest as the court deems necessary. Source: L. 96: Entire part added, p. 1094, � 4, …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-211 Confidentiality
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A CASA volunteer shall not disclose the contents of any document, record, or other information relating to a case to which the CASA volunteer has access in the course of an investigation. All such information shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed to persons …