Parental Responsibility (Custody)

Building a parenting plan for Colorado-required parenting plan spells out where your children will live, their education and activities, how future decisions will be made and more.

In Colorado, Parental Responsibilities include decision-making and parenting time, once called custody. You will need several forms to allocate Parental Responsibility.

Parental responsibility for children's actions

Parental responsibility is generally defined by the Children Act of 1989 "as being all the rights, duties, powers and responsibility which a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his or her property." Parental responsibility is under the recognition of parental responsibility laws. It is therefore a responsibility which is governed and guided by the law such that if you have parental responsibility you are accorded with legal powers to make sound decisions for the proper growth of your child.

Practically speaking, parental responsibility includes making careful decisions on daily matters such as your child's education and activities, choice of residence and religion, medical treatments, future plans, and even dinners and parties.

It is very important to note that parental responsibility act makes a clear legal distinction between simply a mother or a father of the child or the one who has parental responsibility over the child. Although a biological mother and a married father at the time of the child's birth have automatic parental responsibility over the child, it may happen that a father does not have parental responsibility of the child. This occurs when he is not yet legally married to the mother and his name is not stated in the birth certificate of the child.

Under parental responsibility statutes of US states, the father can actually get parental responsibility through several legal means. First, he can obtain parental responsibility if he marries the mother of the child. Second, parental responsibility can also be obtained by the father by entering into a formal agreement with the mother. And lastly, by obtaining an order from the court or a parental responsibility order.

The court would grant the parental responsibility order to the father only after it has properly established that he has a significant degree of commitment and attachment to the child, and his application of parental responsibility is truly for the sake of the child’s interests and welfare.

Parental responsibility ends when the child reaches 18 years old. It may also end earlier following a court order.

Colorado Parenting Plans

This unique booklet describes the Colorado parental reponsibilities law that requires all divorcing parents to create a plan for caring for their children. It also provides guidance on establishing parenting time schedules and on making important decisions about your children.
For more information, please click here: Colorado Parenting Plans

Summons to Respond to Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

This summons is served with a Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities to summon the party to court and respond to the petition.
For more information, please click here: Parental Responsibility Forms in Colorado

Parental Responsibility Forms (previews)

Parenting Plan in Colorado
A written parenting plan is required in divorces where there are minor children.

Temporary Orders in Colorado
(Revision Date: 6/1/2004)