Confidential Intermediary Basics
Adoption search is motivated by a compelling need to know!
WHAT IS A CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARY?
Very few states allow access to original birth records or your original birth certificate; most maintain sealed/closed records. A Confidential Intermediary (CI) is a court-appointed individual who is allowed court-approved access to sealed/closed adoption records. Upon court appointment, the CI will review the sealed records, search for eligible biological family members (eligible list below), and reunite adult biological family members. Court-approved access is an invaluable advantage and will save you precious time. The Confidential Intermediary Program is a fee-based search service.
WHO CAN SEARCH FOR WHOM
Under the Colorado Revised Statute (CRS) § 19-5-304(1)(b)(I)(C), there are six eligible persons allowed to petition the court for a Confidential Intermediary. Eligible person(s) below can initiate a search and/or be sought-after:
- An adult (18 years of age) adoptee.
- An adoptive parent, custodial grandparent, or legal guardian of a minor adoptee.
- A biological parent or an adult biological sibling or half-sibling of an adult adoptee.
- An adult descendant of the adoptee or the adoptive parent, spouse of an adoptee, adult stepchild, or adopted adult sibling of an adoptee (with the notarized consent of the adult adoptee).
- A biological grandparent of an adoptee, with the notarized written consent of the biological parent. Written consent is not required if the biological parent is deceased.
- The legal representative of any individuals listed above (1-5).