(1) Without limiting the jurisdiction of any other court, the juvenile court has jurisdiction of an action brought pursuant to this article 4. The juvenile court's jurisdiction includes concurrent jurisdiction with a dependency and neglect court, as set forth in section 19-3-205 (1), to determine a parent-child legal relationship. A delegate child support enforcement unit also has jurisdiction to establish paternity in noncontested paternities in accordance with the procedures specified in article 13.5 of title 26. The action may be joined with an action in another court of competent jurisdiction for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or support.
(1.5) A paternity determination made by another state, whether established through voluntary acknowledgment, administrative processes, or judicial processes, shall be enforced and otherwise treated in the same manner as a judgment of this state.
(2) A person who has sexual intercourse in this state thereby submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state as to an action brought under this article with respect to a child who may have been conceived by that act of intercourse. Upon filing of the petition, the court shall issue a summons. The hearing shall be set for a day not less than ten days after service is completed or on such later date as the court may order. In addition to any other method provided by rule or statute, including rule 4 (e) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure, when there is a basis for personal jurisdiction over an individual living outside this state pursuant to section 14- 5-201, C.R.S., service may be accomplished by delivering a copy of the summons, together with a copy of the petition upon which it was issued, to the individual served. Such service may be by private process server or by sending such copies to such individual by certified mail with proof of actual receipt by such individual.
(3) The action may be brought in the county in which the child or the alleged father resides or is found, or in any county where public assistance was or is being paid on behalf of the child, or, if the father is deceased, in any county in which proceedings for probate of his estate have been or could be commenced.
Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 795, § 1, effective October 1. L. 89: (1) amended, p. 1247, § 5, effective April 1; (3) amended, p. 794, § 20, effective July 1. L. 94: (1.5) added and
(2) amended, p. 1541, § 14, effective May 31. L. 2005: (2) amended, p. 378, § 4, effective April 22. L. 2021: (1) amended, (HB 21-1220), ch. 212, p. 1129, § 5, effective July 1.
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 19-6-109 as said section existed in 1986, the year prior to the repeal and reenactment of this title.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
9
cases (
2 in the last 5 years), 1990–2025 · leading case:
People ex rel. J.G.C., 318 P.3d 576 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013).
People ex rel. J.G.C., 318 P.3d 576 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013).
· cites it 8× “1 §§ 19-1-104(1)(b) and (£), C.R.S.2018. However, a paternity proceeding "may be joined with an action in another court of competent jurisdiction for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or support.”
in Interest of M.B, 2020 COA 13 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020).
· cites it 2× “§ 19-4-109(1), C.R.S. 2019. For purposes of starting the clock, a dependency and neglect proceeding 24 is not such an action.”
In re the Parental Responsibilities Concerning G.E.R., 264 P.3d 637 (Colo. Ct. App. 2011).
· cites it 8× “We agree with mother's contention that the magistrate erred by concluding that she had to elect between pursuing an action under the UDMA or an action under the UPA.”
in the Interest of G.C.M.M, 2020 COA 152 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020).
“2019; § 19-4-109(1), (2), C.R.S. 2019. A paternity proceeding may be initiated before a child’s birth.”
People, 7 P.3d 1021 (Colo. Ct. App. 2000).
· cites it 3× “50 judgment for child support arrearages calculated from the child's birth in November 1981 until May 1995. No prior child support orders had been entered.”
In Re Ger, 264 P.3d 637 (Colo. Ct. App. 2011).
· cites it 8× “Thus, mother was not precluded from seeking birth-related costs in connection with an action to determine paternity pursuant to the UPA, even if the father and child relationship was uncontested in the action for allocation of parental responsibilities under the UDMA. We agree…”
Peo in Interest of RSG (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 10× “¶ 20 Section 19-4-109(1.5), C.R.S. 2025, provides that “[a] paternity determination made by another state, whether established through 8 voluntary acknowledgment, administrative processes, or judicial processes, shall be enforced and otherwise treated in the same manner as a…”
In the Interest of MFS (Colo. Ct. App. 2025).
“See § 19-4-109(1), C.R.S. 2024. We need not decide, however, whether an independent action would be barred by issue preclusion or claim preclusion because it is undisputed that the child’s paternity in the 2021 case was decided as part of the dependency and neglect proceeding.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-4-109(1) — 7 cases
People ex rel. J.G.C., 318 P.3d 576 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013).
“1 §§ 19-1-104(1)(b) and (£), C.R.S.2018. However, a paternity proceeding "may be joined with an action in another court of competent jurisdiction for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or support.”
in Interest of M.B, 2020 COA 13 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020).
“§ 19-4-109(1), C.R.S. 2019. For purposes of starting the clock, a dependency and neglect proceeding 24 is not such an action.”
in the Interest of G.C.M.M, 2020 COA 152 (Colo. Ct. App. 2020).
“2019; § 19-4-109(1), (2), C.R.S. 2019. A paternity proceeding may be initiated before a child’s birth.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-4-109(2) — 1 case
People, 7 P.3d 1021 (Colo. Ct. App. 2000).
“50 judgment for child support arrearages calculated from the child's birth in November 1981 until May 1995. No prior child support orders had been entered.”
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