Your Rights, One Page (Colorado)

At the door

• Parents can generally decline entry to their home unless the worker has a court order or law enforcement is acting on an emergency.
• It's okay to ask to see paperwork, step outside to talk, and write down every name, agency, and time.
• Staying calm and polite protects you; anger — even justified — gets written down.

Talking with CPS

• Parents generally have the right to stay silent and to talk with a lawyer first. What you say can appear in reports and court.
• Asking for questions in writing is an option. So is answering only what was asked.
• Nothing has to be signed on the spot. "I want to review this with a lawyer" is a complete sentence.

Court

• If children are removed, Colorado law generally requires a court hearing within about 72 hours (excluding weekends/holidays).
• Parents who qualify financially generally have the right to a free court-appointed attorney in dependency & neglect cases — ask the court.
• Showing up to every hearing and visit is the loudest thing a parent can say.

Documentation wins cases

• Write down every contact the same day: who, when, what was said, what was promised.
• Keep every paper, confirm agreements in writing, and save proof of every completed class or test.
• Free private tools for exactly this: theparentempowermentproject.org/tools/

General information for Colorado parents, not legal advice about your case; every case is different, and a licensed attorney can advise you. Free to copy and share unchanged. · Parent Empowerment Project · Free forever · English y español