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JDF 1910.2

Appeal Guide (Adoption & Relinquishment)

Colorado · Colorado Judicial Branch · Effective January 1, 2025

This guide explains the steps for appealing a decision made in an adoption or relinquishment case. It outlines a multi-step process that involves filing notices, designating records, and submitting written arguments to the Court of Appeals.

Open the official PDFfrom Colorado Judicial Branch

Where this fits in a case

Appeal

Stage: Appeal

This guide is used by people who need to appeal a judge's decision in an adoption or relinquishment case. It details the sequence of actions required from filing the initial notice to submitting final written arguments.

Either party may file.

Common questions

What is an appeal?
An appeal is a review of the judge’s decisions in your case. It is not a chance to present new evidence or call new witnesses. The Court of Appeals looks for errors in the law or if the court's findings were clearly wrong.
What is the first step in this process?
The first step is to file a Notice of Appeal using form JDF 1911. This must be done within 49 days of a final order.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2025.

Related forms

  • JDF 1911

    i Notice of Appeal Instructions (Family, District Civil, & Probate)

    This form is a set of instructions for filing a Notice of Appeal, which starts the process of asking a higher court to review a case decision. It asks for details about the case, the final order, and any issues the person believes were wrong in the original decision.

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    Notice of Appeal (Family & District Civil)

    This form is used to officially tell the court that you are appealing a final order from a family or district civil case. It asks for details about the order you are appealing and who else is involved in the appeal.

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    Designation of Transcripts (Family & Civil Appeals)

    This form is used to tell the court which official records, or transcripts, need to be included in an appeal case. It asks the filer to list the specific events and dates for which transcripts are needed.

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  • JDF 1912

    i How to Designate the Transcripts (Family & Civil Appeal)

    This form helps tell the District Court which written records, called transcripts, need to be included in the official file for an appeal. It asks the filer to list the specific court events and dates for the transcripts they want included.

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    i Opening Brief Instructions (Family & Civil Appeals)

    This form provides instructions for filing an Opening Brief, which is a document where the Appellant explains what they believe the District Court did wrong and what they want the Court of Appeals to do to fix the case. It details the required sections and formatting rules for the brief.

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    Opening Brief (Family & Civil Appeals)

    This form is an Opening Brief used in appeals cases in Colorado. It is a document that helps organize the arguments being made to the Court of Appeals.

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    Answer Brief (Family & Civil Appeals)

    This form is a document used in appeals cases to provide a written response to the main arguments being presented. It requires the person filing it to address specific rules, such as word limits and whether certain issues were properly kept for appeal.

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  • JDF 1916

    i Answer Brief Instructions (Family & Civil Appeals)

    This form provides instructions for the Appellee on how to write an Answer Brief, which is a document used to argue against the points made by the Appellant in an Opening Brief during an appeal. It details the required sections and formatting rules for the brief.

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