Locating Family Members Related by Blood

About Locating Family Members Related by Blood (Biological)

You can use a confidential intermediary to locate family members related by blood. A confidential intermediary is a trained person who is approved to look at adoption records to help individuals locate and contact family members related by blood.

For more information about locating family members related by blood, consult §19-5-304, C.R.S. (Colorado Revised Statutes) or Colorado law.

The following people may ask the court to appoint a confidential intermediary to find and contact family members:

• Adult adoptee
• Adoptive parent of a minor adoptee
• Custodial grandparent of a minor adoptee
• Legal guardian of a minor adoptee
• Biological parent of an adult adoptee
• Adult biological sibling (brother or sister) of an adult adoptee
• Adult half-sibling of an adult adoptee
• Adult descendent of adoptee
• Adult descendent of adoptive parent
• Husband or wife of adoptee
• Adult stepchild of adoptee
• Adopted adult sibling of adoptee
• Biological grandparent of an adoptee
• Lawyer for any person listed above
• Former foster child

Criteria for Locating Family Members Related by Blood (Biological)

You must be 18 years old to locate family members related by blood through a confidential intermediary. You may not use a confidential intermediary to find a relative that is less than 18 years old.

If you are one of the people listed below, you will need notarized written consent from the adult adoptee to attach to your paperwork:

• Adult descendant of adoptee
• Adult descendant of adoptive parent
• Husband or wife of adoptee
• Adult stepchild of adoptee
• Adopted adult sibling, such as a sister or brother, of adoptee

If you are the biological grandparent of an adoptee, you will need notarized written consent of the biological parent to attach to your paperwork. The consent is not needed if the biological parent has died.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Download and fill out one of the Locating Family Members Related by Blood (Biological) forms using the forms link above. Choose the form that lists your relationship to the adult adoptee (JDF 341, 342, 343, 344, or 352).

Paperwork Tips

Fill out JDF 353 Consent of Search Pursuant to §19-5-304(1)(b)(I)(D) and (E), C.R.S. if the adult adoptee has not passed away and you are:

• the adult descendant of the adoptee,
• the adult descendent of the adoptive parent,
• the spouse, such as a husband or wife, of the adoptee,
• the adult stepchild of the adoptee, or
• the adopted adult sibling of the adoptee.

JDF 353 shows the court that you have the consent of the adult adoptee to locate family members related by blood. You must submit this form with the motion that you selected and filled out above.

If you are the birth or biological grandparent, fill out form JDF 344 Motion and Affidavit to Open Adoption File by Birth Parent or Biological Grandparent.

If the birth mother used a fake name when the child was given up, you must submit JDF 344A Affidavit of a Birth Mother Who Used a Fictitious Name at the Time of Relinquishment of a Child with JDF 344 Motion and Affidavit to Open Adoption File by Birth Parent or Biological Grandparent.

Tips for completing any of the Motions and Affidavits to Open Adoption File:

• Select the correct form that states the relationship that you have to the adoptee, for example spouse of adoptee.
• You are the petitioner.
• Follow the prompts on the form to provide information about yourself, the adoption, the adoptee, and the birth parents.

How to Submit Paperwork to the Court

1. Decide where (which courthouse) to deliver your paperwork. Your paperwork to locate family members related by blood should be given to the district court in the county where the adoption took place. 
2. Give the Court the completed forms.
3. There is no filing fee.

After Paperwork Is Filed

The judge may decide to grant or deny your motion without a hearing. A confidential intermediary may be assigned by the judge to look at the adoption records and find family members.

What Happens Next?

The confidential intermediary will contact the family member that you are trying to find. The confidential intermediary will ask the family member if they agree to your request for contact.

If the family member wants to be contacted, the confidential intermediary will ask the family member to fill out JDF 346 Consent Release or Refusal to Contact. This form tells the court what type of contact the family member prefers. Contact types listed on the form include letters, phone call, meeting, or other options.

You will be asked to fill out the form, too. The forms will be submitted to the court. Once the court receives the consent forms from both you and your family member, contact may be made with the family member.

If the family member does not want to be contacted, all information found by the confidential intermediary and the adoption record will be returned to the court. The information found by the confidential intermediary is confidential and not a public record or a record that you will be able to look at.