Legal Question in Family Law in Colorado

Interstate Stepparent Adoption

I am the birth parent, living in California, of my son who was born and lives in Colorado. His mother has married and we have all determined that it is in our son's best interest to allow his new stepfather to adopt. I have attained relinquishment papers from Colorado. However, they also require relinquishment counseling (another form), by a county health and human services worker. The problem is that we don't require relinquishment counseling in California for stepparent adoption. In fact, stepparent adoptions are handled through county probation. I have talked with an attorney from Colorado about who is qualified in California to do the counseling and sign off on the form. She said to just find the equivalent of their county health and human services worker. The real problem is that in California we do not have such a person. I talked to the State human services agency. They have social workers, but do not generally do stepparent adoptions. To get to the point, where can I go (California) to obtain relinquishment counseling and fulfill the requirements of the State of Colorado?


Asked on 6/29/00, 5:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John A. Giffen Law Offices of John A. Giffen

Re: Interstate Stepparent Adoption

California has a person known as an ASP Adoption Service Provider that gives counseling and advisements to natural parents when they place their child for adoption in an independent adoption. I believe that Colorodo would honor the ASP's California license to take consents and give advisements in a Step Parent adoption. They charge about $500.00 An adoption attorney in your county should be able to provide the name of an ASP in your area or call the county Adoption worker in your area, they have a list of licenced workers.

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Answered on 9/07/00, 2:47 am


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