How to Adopt a Baby in Colorado with a Licensed Agency

If you’re dreaming of starting or growing your family, adoption in Colorado may be the path that brings your child home.

Whether you’ve faced challenges with infertility or an LGBT family eager to become parents, this journey can be deeply meaningful — and entirely possible with the right support.

We’re here to help you navigate the process from beginning to end. We can connect hopeful you with the most experienced and trusted adoption professionals in Colorado — from licensed agencies to home study providers and attorneys.

Contact us today to get more information about adopting a baby in Colorado.

Adoption Agencies in Colorado

Choosing a licensed, ethical, and experienced professional can dramatically shape your experience — and your wait time.

Whether you are considering domestic adoption, foster care adoption or international adoption, here are some professionals you can look into in Colorado:

Private Adoption Agencies Near Me in Colorado

Private (domestic infant) adoption agencies help hopeful parents connect with expectant mothers considering adoption.

Here are some trusted private adoption agencies serving Colorado:

• American Adoptions of Colorado(Denver, Colorado Springs, Arvada): A national, full-service adoption agency with 24/7 support, shorter average wait times, and one of the most robust matching networks in the U.S.
• Hope’s Promise(Castle Rock): Specializes in infant and kinship adoption with trauma-informed care and a strong emphasis on ethical matching.
• Adoption Dreams Come True(Fort Collins): Offers 24/7 support for expectant parents and a wide range of services for adoptive families, including open adoption planning.

Learn more about the unique path to parenthood private adoption agencies can provide.

Foster Care Adoption Agencies Near Me in Colorado

Adopting through the Colorado foster care system allows families to provide permanent homes for children of all ages.

Top foster care agencies in Colorado include:

• Raise the Future(Denver): Formerly The Adoption Exchange, this organization specializes in matching families with waiting children across Colorado and beyond.
• Ariel Clinical Services(Grand Junction, Denver): Provides foster care and adoption services, including training and post-adoption support.
• Colorado Department of Human Services:Coordinates foster-to-adopt placements statewide and connects prospective families with their local county DHS offices.

International Adoption Agencies Near Me in Colorado

International adoption offers families the opportunity to adopt a child from another country, but it involves a more complex legal and logistical process.

 You’ll need to work with a Hague-accredited agency and follow both U.S. and the child’s country’s adoption laws.

• Children’s House International(national, serves CO families): Offers international adoption programs in over 10 countries and coordinates Hague-accredited placements.
• Nightlight Christian Adoptions (Loveland): Offers international adoption programs in countries including Colombia, Haiti, and Bulgaria. Fully Hague-accredited.
• All God’s Children International (national, serves CO families): Specializes in placements from Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America with extensive pre-travel education and support.

What to Look for in Colorado Adoption Agencies

When considering how to adopt a baby in Colorado, here are the qualities to prioritize in an agency:

Licensing Matters

Licensed agencies mitigate the risks posed by unregulated “match-and-abandon” agencies, which often leave families financially and emotionally vulnerable due to lack of due diligence and legal protection.

States are beginning to enforce laws against unlicensed adoption providers, prompted by FTC warnings and pending federal legislation like the ADOPT Act.

National vs. Local

National agencies can offer more adoption opportunities, but only if they’re properly licensed to operate across multiple states.

Licensed agencies with national outreach, like American Adoptions, can deliver consistently accurate wait times and thoroughly vetted opportunities, increasing the likelihood of successful placements.

Families should verify the scope and legality of services offered, as some agencies only provide limited matching without follow-through.

Learn more about how an national agency can provide what you need for a successful adoption.

Full-Service Capabilities

The best agencies handle everything. Many professionals market themselves as full-service agencies but only offer matching, lacking licensing, legal expertise and critical support services like counseling and case management.

Without licensed staff or comprehensive resources, they often shift the financial and logistical burden onto families post-match.

In contrast, licensed agencies are equipped to manage the full adoption process, providing both legal and emotional support.

Financial Protection

Look for transparent fee structures and protections if an adoption doesn’t go through. Some agencies offer risk-sharing programs that refund significant costs in the event of a disruption.

Families often don’t realize that unlicensed professionals offer limited services, pushing the financial and legal risks onto them—sometimes resulting in significant losses.

While licensed agencies may appear more expensive upfront, that cost reflects comprehensive services, risk mitigation and transparent, realistic estimates. Lower-cost providers often omit key fees, offer best-case projections and strip out essential support, leaving families unprepared and financially exposed.

Experience and Interstate Expertise

Experienced professionals understand the nuances of local courts, hospital protocols and post-adoption agreements.

With licensing across numerous states and deep experience in diverse scenarios, full-service agencies are better equipped to manage legally complex or high-risk adoptions across state lines.

Most minimally or unlicensed agencies lack the expertise to navigate the complexities of interstate adoption, which requires knowledge of laws in every state.

What Do Adoption Agencies Do? – How They Can Help

Adoption agencies play a central role in making your Colorado adoption experience safe, legal and emotionally supportive.

Working with the right agency means having an expert by your side for every single step.

Here’s how agencies support your journey:

The right agency doesn’t just help you adopt — it helps you feel prepared, informed and emotionally supported.

How to Adopt a Baby in Colorado: 5 Steps to Parenthood

Once you’ve found the right agency, adopting a baby in Colorado means embracing a process that’s both structured and filled with heart.

Here’s how most families reach their adoption dreams:

Step 1: Find an Adoption Agency in Colorado

You don’t have to do this alone — and you shouldn’t. Colorado requires adoptive parents to work with either a licensed child placement agency or adoption attorney.

Choosing the right professional means choosing someone who will:

• Walk you through the paperwork and legal process
• Provide emotional support and education
• Help you match with the right birth mother

Tip: National agencies often have more expansive reach, which means they work with more women considering adoption and can provide shorter, more stable wait times.

We can help you identify an adoption agency near you that provides the services you need for a safe and successful adoption.

Step 2: Complete the Pre-Adoption Process

This step includes:

• The Home Study: Required in all Colorado adoptions (except close relative/stepparent cases), it involves background checks, home visits, interviews, and references.
• Adoption Profile: A personalized introduction that helps expectant mothers envisions you as potential parents.

We’ll help you prepare for this process and connect you with licensed home study providers across Colorado.

Step 3: Be Chosen by a Prospective Birth Mother

In most domestic infant adoptions, the expectant mother chooses the adoptive family. Colorado law supports open and semi-open adoption relationships, allowing expectant mothers to get to know prospective families and make empowered decisions.

Step 4: Meet Your Baby — Delivery & Hospital Time

Under Colorado law, a birth mother cannot relinquish her parental rights until at least 4 days after birth. This period allows time for healing and decision confirmation.

During this time, the hospital stay can be coordinated with compassion for everyone involved. Most adoptive families have the chance to meet their child at birth and support the mother’s wishes for contact during delivery.

Step 5: Finalization and Post-Placement Life

Once parental rights are terminated and you’ve completed the necessary supervisory period (often 6 months), your adoption will be finalized in court.

At that moment, you’ll receive a decree of adoption, and your child’s amended birth certificate will list you as their legal parents.

Who Can Adopt a Baby in Colorado?

Any adult aged 21 or older can adopt in Colorado, including:

• Married couples
• Single individuals
• LGBTQ+ families
• Partners in a civil union

There’s no set income requirement, but you must demonstrate emotional, physical, and financial stability during your home study.

Understanding Adoption Costs in Colorado

Private adoption in Colorado typically costs between $20,000 and $50,000, depending on the agency, services and level of openness involved. Common expenses include:

• Agency fees
• Birth mother support
• Birth mother living expenses

Learn more about adoption costs.

How the Adoption Home Study Works in Colorado

Before you can adopt a baby in Colorado, you’ll need to complete a home study — a required legal and social evaluation that determines your readiness to adopt. While it might sound intimidating, the process is designed to protect children and support families, not judge them.

Here’s what you can expect from a Colorado home study:

Once complete, your home study will be submitted to the court and/or adoption agency and used in the matching and finalization process.

Home Study Providers in Colorado

If you’re not working with a full-service agency that includes a home study, you’ll need to hire a licensed provider. We recommend starting with:

• American Adoptions of Colorado (Denver, Colorado Springs, Arvada):  A national adoption agency that offers fast, streamlined home studies for hopeful parents whether you complete your adoption with them or another professional.
• Adoption Options (Denver):  Licensed nonprofit agency with deep local experience. Provides home studies and post-placement supervision.
• Nightlight Christian Adoptions (Loveland): Hague-accredited agency offering comprehensive home study and international assessments.

What You Should Know About Open Adoption in Colorado

Open adoption is legally supported in Colorado. Post-adoption contact agreements are enforceable when part of the adoption decree. 

This means families can maintain communication with birth parents through:

• Photos and updates
• Phone or video calls
• In-person visits (if agreed upon)

These arrangements are designed to evolve with the child’s best interests at heart.

Colorado Adoption FAQ

How does adoption finalization work in Colorado?

The adoption hearing typically happens 6–9 months after placement. The judge will review relinquishment documentation, home study and post-placement reports, and any post-adoption contact agreements. Once finalized, your legal parenthood is permanent and complete.

Can birth mothers change their minds?

Yes — until the court finalizes the relinquishment (at least 4 days post-birth), a mother can withdraw her petition. After that, the decision is binding.

Is there an adoption tax credit in Colorado?

There’s no additional state tax credit, but you may qualify for the federal credit (up to $15,950 in 2023).

Learn more at IRS.gov.

Can LGBTQ+ couples adopt in Colorado?

Absolutely. Colorado adoption law is inclusive and does not restrict adoption based on gender, marital status or sexual orientation.

Are adoptive parents listed on the birth certificate?

Yes. After finalization, Colorado issues a new birth certificate naming the adoptive parents.

Can you adopt without an agency?

Yes, through an independent adoption — but Colorado still requires a licensed agency to complete your home study and follow legal steps.

Adopt a Baby in Colorado Today with Expert Help

You don’t have to navigate this life-changing journey alone. Whether you’re a first-time parent or building on a dream years in the making, we’re here to ensure your Colorado adoption is supported at every step.