What Are A Father's Rights In Colorado?

As a father in Colorado, your rights mirror a mother’s: the same standing to seek parenting time, the same consideration in decision-making responsibility, and the same best-interests evaluation from the court, regardless of gender and regardless of whether you were ever married to the child’s mother.

If you were not married to the child’s mother, your practical first step is usually establishing legal paternity, since custody and support rights generally flow from that legal relationship being confirmed. Once paternity is established or you are already the child’s legal father through marriage, you have the same right as the other parent to pursue parenting time and input into decisions about your child’s upbringing. If you feel your rights as a father are not being recognized, or you are not sure whether paternity needs to be formally established in your situation, that is worth a direct conversation with an attorney.