If a caseworker has contacted you, or you have a court date coming up, this page covers what you need to know first. It is general information about how the process works in Colorado — it is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for an attorney.
First Things First
You have the right to an attorney
In dependency and neglect proceedings in Colorado, parents have the right to counsel, and counsel may be appointed if you cannot afford one. Ask for an attorney at your first hearing. Do not wait, and do not assume you will be offered one automatically.
Write everything down
Keep a dated log of every contact: who came, when, what was said, what was asked of you, and what you agreed to. Names and dates matter enormously later. Memory fades and records get contested — your notes are evidence.
Get your Register of Actions
The Register of Actions is the official list of everything filed in your case. Request it from the clerk of court. It tells you what has actually been filed, what hearings are set, and whether anything happened that you were not told about.
Who’s Who in Your Case
A lot of people appear in a dependency case, and it is not always clear who represents whom. This matters — some of these people are not on your side, and some are not on anyone’s side.
- Caseworker — Works for the county human services department. They are not your advocate.
- County Attorney — Represents the department, not you and not your child.
- Guardian ad Litem (GAL) — Appointed to represent the child’s best interests. Not your attorney.
- Respondent Parent Counsel — This is your attorney, if one has been appointed for you.
- Evaluators and experts — Court-appointed professionals whose reports can carry significant weight.
Common Mistakes
- Missing a hearing. Show up to every single one, even if you think nothing will happen. Absences are held against you.
- Agreeing to things you do not understand. Ask for it in writing. Ask what happens if you do not agree.
- Missing deadlines. Appeal windows are short and unforgiving. If you intend to appeal, act immediately.
- Losing your temper on the record. Understandable, and it will be used against you. Stay steady.
- Not keeping copies. Keep every document you receive and every document you file.
If You Are Representing Yourself
Representing yourself is difficult, but it is not impossible, and many parents have no other option. If that is where you are:
- Read the Memorandum of Procedures — it lays out how these cases are supposed to run.
- Learn the deadlines that apply to your case and calendar them.
- File everything in writing. Verbal agreements disappear.
- Ask the court for accommodations if you need them.
- Reach out to us. Mentoring is free.
You Are Not Alone in This
Most families going through this feel isolated and ashamed, and that isolation is part of what makes the process so damaging. It does not have to be that way. Reach out — even if you are not sure we can help, we can usually point you toward someone who can.
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