(1) After a petition has been filed, the court shall promptly issue a summons reciting briefly the substance of the petition. The summons shall also contain a statement, when appropriate, that the termination of the parent- child legal relationship is a possible remedy under the proceedings and shall set forth the constitutional and legal rights of the child, his parents, guardian, or legal custodian, or any other respondent or special respondent, including the right to have an attorney present at the hearing on the petition.
(2) No summons shall issue to any respondent who appears voluntarily or who waives service, but any such person shall be provided with a copy of the petition and summons upon appearance or request.
(3) The summons shall require the person or persons having the physical custody of the child to appear, and it may order the child to appear before the court at a time and place stated. If the person or persons so summoned are not the parents or guardian of the child, then a summons shall also be issued to the parents or guardian, or both, notifying them of the pendency of the case and of the time and place set for hearing.
(4) The court on its own motion or on the motion of any party may join as a respondent or special respondent or require the appearance of any person it deems necessary to the action and authorize the issuance of a summons directed to such person. Any party to the action may request the issuance of compulsory process by the court requiring the attendance of witnesses on his own behalf or on behalf of the child.
(5) If it appears that the welfare of the child or of the public requires that the child be taken into custody, the court may, by endorsement upon the summons, direct that the person serving the summons take the child into custody at once.
(6) The court may authorize the payment of necessary travel expenses incurred by persons summoned or otherwise required to appear, which payments shall not exceed the amount allowed to witnesses for travel by the district court.
(7) Summonses shall be served personally, pursuant to the Colorado rules of civil procedure. If personal service is used, it shall be sufficient to confer jurisdiction if service is effected not less than two days before the time fixed in the summons for the appearance of the person served; except that personal service shall be effected not less than five days prior to the time set for a hearing concerning a dependent or neglected child.
(8) If the respondent required to be summoned under subsection (3) of this section cannot be found within the state, the fact of the child's presence in the state shall confer jurisdiction on the court as to any absent respondent if due notice has been given in the following manner:
(a) When the residence of the person to be served outside the state is known, a copy of the summons and petition shall be sent by certified mail with postage prepaid to such person at his place of residence with a return receipt requested. Service of summons shall be deemed complete within five days after return of the requested receipt.
(b) When the person to be served has no residence within Colorado and his place of residence is not known or when he cannot be found within the state after due diligence, service may be by publication pursuant to rule 4 (g) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure; except that service may be by a single publication and must be completed not less than five days prior to the time set for a hearing concerning a dependent or neglected child.
Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 780, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2019: (8)(b) amended, (SB 19-241), ch. 390, p. 3467, § 18, effective August 2.
Editor's note: This section was contained in a title that was repealed and reenacted in 1987. Provisions of this section, as it existed in 1987, are similar to those contained in 19-3-103 as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.
Notes of Decisions
People in the Interest of C.G., & Concerning J.N, 2015 COA 106 (Colo. Ct. App. 2015).
· cites it 7× “60(b) motion concerns the Divisionâs alleged failure to exercise due diligence to ascertain his identity, locate him, and serve him personally, before it served him by publication under section 19-3-503(8)(b), C.R.S. 2014. Issues concerning the failure to properly identify…”
in Interest of A.B-A, 2019 COA 125 (Colo. Ct. App. 2019).
· cites it 9× “See 26 § 19-3-503 (summons shall set forth parent’s constitutional and legal rights).”
People ex rel. N.G., 303 P.3d 1207 (Colo. Ct. App. 2012).
· cites it 2× “" § 19-3-503(1), C.R.S.2011. . Because the question is not before us, we leave for another day deciding the weight that a court must give to the Troxel presumption when entering temporary orders before the adjudication, based on other evidence that a parent is not adequately…”
People in the Interest of J.G, 2016 CO 39 (Colo. 2016).
· cites it 8× “§ 19-3-503. The court then informs the parents of their rights in court, and if the parents contest the allegations contained in the petition and request a trial— either to the court or to a jury—then the State must prove those allegations to the fact-finder by a preponderance…”
People ex rel. J.C.S., 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
· cites it 7× “See § 19-3-503; see also § 19-3-202, C.R.98.2006 (at first appearance, court must advise respondent parent of legal rights, including right to counsel).”
A.M. v. A.C., 296 P.3d 1026 (Colo. 2013).
“§ 19-3-503(1). *1033 The adjudicatory hearing must occur at the earliest time possible, but "in no instance" later than sixty days from service of the petition where the child is under six years of age, § 19-3-505(3), and, in the case of such a child, the dispositional hearing…”
People Ex Rel. Jcs, 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
· cites it 22× “Having so concluded, we need not address the trial court's alternative determination that mother had actual notice of the proceedings from her communications with the caseworker before the shelter hearing or the significance of lack of a formal advisement of her legal rights…”
Petition of J.N. (Colo. Ct. App. 2022).
· cites it 11× “§ 19-3-503(7), C.R.S. 2021. However, when the person to be served “cannot be found within the state after due diligence,” service may be by publication “pursuant to rule 4(g) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure.”
Peo in Interest of AW (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 3× “As relevant here, section 19-3-503(8) states that, when a parent 4 “cannot be found within the state,” the child’s presence in Colorado confers jurisdiction on the juvenile court “if due notice has been given.”
Peo in Interest of AS (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 2× “See § 19-3-503(8)(b), C.R.S. 2024; C.R.C.P. 4(g).”
Peo in Interest of OF (Colo. Ct. App. 2026).
· cites it 2× “” § 19-3-503(2). ¶9 A parent may “appear specially to contest a court’s personal jurisdiction over [him] and such special appearance may not result in the court’s acquiring personal jurisdiction” over him.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(1) — 6 cases
People ex rel. N.G., 303 P.3d 1207 (Colo. Ct. App. 2012).
“" § 19-3-503(1), C.R.S.2011. . Because the question is not before us, we leave for another day deciding the weight that a court must give to the Troxel presumption when entering temporary orders before the adjudication, based on other evidence that a parent is not adequately…”
People in the Interest of J.G, 2016 CO 39 (Colo. 2016).
“§ 19-3-503. The court then informs the parents of their rights in court, and if the parents contest the allegations contained in the petition and request a trial— either to the court or to a jury—then the State must prove those allegations to the fact-finder by a preponderance…”
A.M. v. A.C., 296 P.3d 1026 (Colo. 2013).
“§ 19-3-503(1). *1033 The adjudicatory hearing must occur at the earliest time possible, but "in no instance" later than sixty days from service of the petition where the child is under six years of age, § 19-3-505(3), and, in the case of such a child, the dispositional hearing…”
People ex rel. J.C.S., 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
“See § 19-3-503; see also § 19-3-202, C.R.98.2006 (at first appearance, court must advise respondent parent of legal rights, including right to counsel).”
in Interest of A.B-A, 2019 COA 125 (Colo. Ct. App. 2019).
“See 26 § 19-3-503 (summons shall set forth parent’s constitutional and legal rights).”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(2) — 3 cases
People ex rel. J.C.S., 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
“See § 19-3-503; see also § 19-3-202, C.R.98.2006 (at first appearance, court must advise respondent parent of legal rights, including right to counsel).”
People Ex Rel. Jcs, 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
“Having so concluded, we need not address the trial court's alternative determination that mother had actual notice of the proceedings from her communications with the caseworker before the shelter hearing or the significance of lack of a formal advisement of her legal rights…”
Peo in Interest of OF (Colo. Ct. App. 2026).
“” § 19-3-503(2). ¶9 A parent may “appear specially to contest a court’s personal jurisdiction over [him] and such special appearance may not result in the court’s acquiring personal jurisdiction” over him.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(3) — 1 case
People in the Interest of J.G, 2016 CO 39 (Colo. 2016).
“§ 19-3-503. The court then informs the parents of their rights in court, and if the parents contest the allegations contained in the petition and request a trial— either to the court or to a jury—then the State must prove those allegations to the fact-finder by a preponderance…”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(7) — 2 cases
Petition of J.N. (Colo. Ct. App. 2022).
“§ 19-3-503(7), C.R.S. 2021. However, when the person to be served “cannot be found within the state after due diligence,” service may be by publication “pursuant to rule 4(g) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure.”
Peo in Interest of OF (Colo. Ct. App. 2026).
“” § 19-3-503(2). ¶9 A parent may “appear specially to contest a court’s personal jurisdiction over [him] and such special appearance may not result in the court’s acquiring personal jurisdiction” over him.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(8) — 2 cases
Petition of J.N. (Colo. Ct. App. 2022).
“§ 19-3-503(7), C.R.S. 2021. However, when the person to be served “cannot be found within the state after due diligence,” service may be by publication “pursuant to rule 4(g) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure.”
Peo in Interest of AW (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
“As relevant here, section 19-3-503(8) states that, when a parent 4 “cannot be found within the state,” the child’s presence in Colorado confers jurisdiction on the juvenile court “if due notice has been given.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(8)(a) — 1 case
Peo in Interest of AW (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
“As relevant here, section 19-3-503(8) states that, when a parent 4 “cannot be found within the state,” the child’s presence in Colorado confers jurisdiction on the juvenile court “if due notice has been given.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-503(8)(b) — 6 cases
People in the Interest of C.G., & Concerning J.N, 2015 COA 106 (Colo. Ct. App. 2015).
“60(b) motion concerns the Divisionâs alleged failure to exercise due diligence to ascertain his identity, locate him, and serve him personally, before it served him by publication under section 19-3-503(8)(b), C.R.S. 2014. Issues concerning the failure to properly identify…”
in Interest of A.B-A, 2019 COA 125 (Colo. Ct. App. 2019).
“See 26 § 19-3-503 (summons shall set forth parent’s constitutional and legal rights).”
People ex rel. J.C.S., 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
“See § 19-3-503; see also § 19-3-202, C.R.98.2006 (at first appearance, court must advise respondent parent of legal rights, including right to counsel).”
People Ex Rel. Jcs, 169 P.3d 240 (Colo. Ct. App. 2007).
“Having so concluded, we need not address the trial court's alternative determination that mother had actual notice of the proceedings from her communications with the caseworker before the shelter hearing or the significance of lack of a formal advisement of her legal rights…”
Petition of J.N. (Colo. Ct. App. 2022).
“§ 19-3-503(7), C.R.S. 2021. However, when the person to be served “cannot be found within the state after due diligence,” service may be by publication “pursuant to rule 4(g) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure.”
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